Cole McKinnon has signed a season-long loan deal with Partick Thistle as the Rangers talent continues his development in the Championship.
The teenage midfielder netted for the Light Blues in the final Premiership match of season 21/22 against Hearts and signed a new three-year deal earlier this summer. Jags boss Ian McCall hinted last week that a central player everyone 'probably' already knew about was coming to Firhill amid rumours McKinnon was to don red and yellow.
Now his deal is confirmed and he's the latest in a long line of players to move to Partick Thistle from Rangers since McCall became boss again in 2019. In terms of this summer, Steven Lawless, Harry Milne, David Mitchell, Aaron Muirhead and Jack McMillan have all arrived at Firhill this summer. Jags boss McCall said: “Cole is a player who is very highly thought of at Rangers so we’re very happy to bring him in on loan for the season.
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"He got a taste of playing Premiership football at the end of last season and impressed during that game but he knows that he’ll need to work extremely hard to get back to that position.
“We’ve spoken a lot about wanting plenty of competition in the squad and adding Cole brings more of that to the midfield.
"We’ve already got a lot of quality in the middle of the park so hopefully adding another talented midfielder only raises the levels further.”
A club statement read: "Partick Thistle FC are excited to announce the signing of midfielder Cole McKinnon on a season-long loan deal from Rangers, subject to Scottish FA clearance.
"The 19-year-old arrives at Firhill following an impressive season as part of the Rangers B team during which he competed in the Lowland League, UEFA Youth League and SPFL Trust Trophy.
"McKinnon won the B team’s Players’ Player of the Season prize and was rewarded for his efforts with a full Rangers debut in a 3-1 win over Hearts at Tynecastle, scoring his first senior goal in the process.
"Cole now comes to Maryhill looking to impress at cinch Championship level having previously spent a short time on loan with East Fife."
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