Filip Helander joins Rangers on four-year deal from Bologna

Filip Helander gets stuck in during a Sweden training sessions. The defender has ten international caps

Helander, who made 23 appearances for the Serie A side last season, has agreed a four-year deal, after the two clubs agreed a reported fee of £3.5 million.The 26-year-old started out at hometown club Malmo and was signed by Italian club Verona in the summer of 2015.The central defender spent just one season at the Stadio Marc'Antonio Bentegodi before moving to Bologna, initially on a season-long loan, before the deal was made permanent in 2017.

He has ten caps for Sweden - four this year along - and made 19 appearances for his country at Under-21 level after featuring at Under-17 and Under-19 level."I'm delighted to be joining Rangers, it's a special club with tremendous fans and a unique history," Helander told the Ibrox side's website.

“The opportunity to work with a manager like Steven Gerrard was an easy decision to make.

“I’ve come here to battle for every point and to win trophies and I’m looking forward to meeting my teammates and getting started.”

Helander will battle with George Edmundson, Connor Goldson and Nikola Katic for the central defensive slots in the Ibrox first team.

The 6ft 4in Swede is Gerrard's eighth signing of the summer, joining Edmundson, Joe Aribo, Steven Davis, Jake Hastie, Jordan Jones, Sheyi Ojo and Greg Stewart.