Rangers sign former Hearts captain Marius Zaliukas

Zaliukas featured in the club's 1-1 draw with Brora Rangers last weekend. Picture: SNS

The Lithuania central defender has signed a two-year contract following a successful trial period.

The 30-year-old also trained with the club last summer but ended up with Leeds.

It was a busy day for the club as goalkeeper Steve Simonsen also signed a new contract.

Simonsen made three appearances as back-up to Cammy Bell last season but he said he turned down the chance to be first-choice goalkeeper elsewhere to sign a one-year deal, just ahead of their pre-season tour of North America.

The 35-year-old told the club’s official website said: “I had a lot of other teams getting in contact and it was a little bit like buses this summer.

“A few in England and Scotland got in touch but as soon as the manager expressed his interest in bringing me back here again it was a non-competition.

“This was the only place I wanted to come to and there’s massive appeal here because I thoroughly enjoyed it at Rangers last season.

“It’s a fantastic football club as everybody knows. When I got the call, I just told the manager I’d be here whenever he needed me. I couldn’t wait to get back.

“I could maybe have gone somewhere else as the number one but I’m just delighted to be back and I’m looking forward to working alongside Cammy again.”