James Tavernier to Leave Rangers After Historic Spell? What We Know
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James Tavernier’s current deal at Rangers is set to expire at the end of June, when he will become a free agent. Tavernier is still unsure whether he will be offered contract negotiations by Rangers, as fears over his age and the possibility of an extended contract have increased doubts regarding his future, with increasing expectations that he may be allowed to move on from Ibrox.
Compounding the problem, when questioned whether he would continue to feature for Rangers past summer 2026, the player responded: “I don’t know. We’ll see how time unfolds.” Shockingly, Tavernier himself has disclosed that he has never had any contract talks with the Scottish club, which suggests a lot about the intentions of the club.
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The Rangers’ team captain, 34-year-old James Tavernier, has had a poor season as compared to past seasons. While he remains an important player for the team, he is not always selected to start a match anymore. The truth is that Rohl likes playing with Sterling at the right-back position whenever he is available. Despite the fact that Tavernier is an experienced player, it is high time he left Rangers for another club.
This season Tavernier only made it to the field in 23 matches out of the league, without being able to secure a continuous series of starts despite approaching the final stages of the season. As far as Sterling goes, at 26 years of age he will be crucial for Rohl next season, as Rangers are reportedly interested in another right-back.
Despite the uncertainty, Tavernier himself sounds far from ready to hang up his boots. In a bullish interview with BBC Scotland, he said: “I’ll keep playing, 100 per cent. I’m not slowing down, I’m still putting in numbers. My body feels great. Easily, I think I’ve got another three or four years. I’ve always been robust in my playing career.”
Asked about his future at the club in relation to guaranteed minutes on the pitch due to Rohl’s presence, he answered that “Nobody gets guaranteed minutes to play football.” A realistic approach from a player who has given his all to the team over the past ten years.
No matter what happens this summer, nobody will be able to deny that Tavernier has done for the club. Over 562 games for the Blue of Light, 144 goals, and 148 assists.
He was enshrined in the Rangers Hall of Fame in 2023. In March 2024, he surpassed everyone else as the most prolific defender in British professional football, and in January 2026, he climbed to fifth place on the list of the greatest scorers in defensive positions worldwide. On 1 March 2025, he became one of only fourteen men to play for the team in 500 matches across all competitions.
In the current season of the Premiership League, Tavernier boasts an impressive tally of 11 shut-outs from 28 games, conceding only 16 goals, while also scoring 7 times and providing 4 assists – with xA above 97% of all other players in the division. That is the record of a man who is still at the peak of his powers.
According to Football Insider, Rangers look even more likely to let Tavernier leave at the end of his contract this summer as they line up a move to sign Liverpool right-back Luca Stephenson, who has impressed on loan at Dundee United. Stephenson has been identified as a potential long-term replacement for Tavernier.
There are also lingering concerns about Tavernier’s defensive application, and in key recent meetings with Hearts and Celtic, Rohl has favoured Sterling at right-back.
Former Rangers manager Mark Warburton was candid in his assessment. Warburton believes the Ibrox faithful won’t actually appreciate what they have until Tavernier is gone — a sentiment backed up strongly by the stats.
Former teammate Josh Windass was equally blunt. He said: “He gets hammered for no reason. They lose a game and it’s his fault… Go play for someone who respects you.”
Rangers are staring down a really tough question — it’s not just about giving Tavernier the respect he’s earned, but whether they can actually replace him. This season may see the end of what could go down as one of the greatest careers for an individual player in Scottish football history.
Regardless of whether he leaves for free or says his final farewells emotionally at Ibrox, James Tavernier will depart as one of the best defenders ever seen in world football.
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