Lewis Ferguson: Bologna exit 'never close' as Rangers dream lingers in background

Bologna captain confirms future was considered but insists switch never materialised

Scotland midfielder Lewis Ferguson has admitted a return to boyhood club Rangers remains "always something in the back of my mind" – but has insisted he was never close to leaving Bologna during the summer transfer window.

The 27-year-old, released by Rangers at the age of 14 before climbing to Serie A via Hamilton Academical and Aberdeen in 2022, has been the subject of persistent speculation linking him with a return to Ibrox. Newly-installed Rangers manager Derek McInnes spoke in July of an "obvious link" with Ferguson, having previously worked with the player at Aberdeen.

But Ferguson, who has captained Bologna since 2023 and lifted the club's first Coppa Italia in over 50 years in 2025, says a move was never close to happening.

"I had a long think after the World Cup about my future and I was a little bit unsure but nothing was ever that close," Ferguson said. "I had a long think about what my future was going to look like and in the end it was still at Bologna. I've loved every moment that I've had there. It was just about continuing that journey and seeing where it takes me."

A tumultuous period of change

Ferguson's future became a talking point after a campaign in which starts became sparse under Vincenzo Italiano, with the midfielder making just 17 league appearances from the outset. Since returning for pre-season, he has experienced a whirlwind of managerial change.

"When I went back for pre-season, we had a new manager [Domenico Tedesco] and it was like a fresh start," Ferguson explained. "We changed again since [with Raffaele Palladino], so I've had three new managers in the last two months [including Sebastien Pocognoli with Scotland]."

The upheaval appears to have reaped rewards on the pitch. Ferguson, under contract until 2028 with the option of a further year, has played every minute of Bologna's five Serie A games so far this season and captained the side throughout.

The Rangers pull remains

Ferguson's bond with Rangers runs deep. His father, Derek, and uncle, Barry, both played for the club, with Barry going on to captain and at one stage manage at Ibrox. Speaking ahead of Scotland's Nations League clash with Switzerland, Ferguson made clear his affection for the club has not faded.

"It's no secret that I grew up a fan and my family is involved in the club," he said. "It was a dream of mine as a kid and that's not changed but I don't want to speak about that while I'm a player at Bologna. In the future, you never know. It might happen, it might not, but it's always been something in the back of mind."

He added: "It's no secret I grew up a [Rangers] fan. That's absolutely no secret. My family is involved in the club, and it was an aspiration of mine, a dream of mine as a kid and that's not changed. But I don't want to speak about that while I'm still a player at Bologna. I've got too much respect for them, but in the future you never know. It might happen, it might not, but it's always been something in the back of my mind."

Ferguson, who made his 28th Scotland appearance in Saturday's 0-0 draw away to Slovenia, will now turn his focus to the national side as they prepare to host Switzerland in the Nations League on Tuesday night.