Update: Ex-Inverness footballer McLauchlan agrees pre-contract with Rangers after Glasgow City confirm departure
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Former Inverness City footballer Rachel McLauchlan will be leaving Glasgow City when her current contract expires after agreeing a pre-contract deal with Rangers.
The Ibrox outfit turned professional at the end of last year, giving them a financial advantage over City, who have dominated the women's game in Scotland for over a decade.
Rangers confirmed the signing after Glasgow City had earlier announced that the 23-year-old's time in Orange was coming to an end.
McLauchlan signed for City in July last year after a brief spell at Yeovil Town, who ran into financial difficulties soon after she moved down south.
In her time at Petershill Park, the Avoch full back won the Scottish Women's Premier League for the first time, as well as adding another Scottish Women's Cup winner's medal to her collection.
The Scotland international was in the starting line-up for City's Champions League quarter final last month, which they lost against eventual runners-up Wolfsburg.
Rangers head coach Malky Thomson commented: “We are delighted to secure the services of Rachel who was another of our key targets.
"We see her as a versatile player with huge potential given her age and she was always one of our main targets since we commenced this new project.
"With all of our new experienced full time staff combined with the completely full time high-performance environment we have, a first for Scotland, we believe Rachel will embrace this and thrive for both Rangers and her country.”
Women’s and girl’s football manager Amy McDonald added: “This is yet another very pleasing announcement and is another example of how we are driving forward a unique, full time professional women’s football programme in Scotland striving for excellence.
"The signing of another high profile player like Rachel will continue the growth and progress of women’s football at Rangers and demonstrates our aspirational desire to create a team which is successful domestically and in Europe. We are relentless in continuing to develop our women’s model.”
