West Brom academy product handed free transfer as part of Rangers clear-out

West Brom academy product Kemar Roofe came through the ranks at The Hawthorns but made his name at Leeds United

Rangers have announced that they have released five first-team players following the culmination of their season – including West Brom academy product Kemar Roofe. Rangers surrendered the Scottish Premier League title to rivals Celtic this season and, as such, Philippe Clement has decided to carry out a bit of a cull of his squad ahead of a summer rebuild.

Roofe, 31, played 100 matches for the Gers in the four years he spent at Ibrox having spent a single season in Belgium with Anderlecht. He scored 38 times, hitting double figures for goals in the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons, but in the last couple of years in particular he has struggled with injuries.

Walsall-born Roofe left The Hawthorns having not played a senior match in any competition in 2015, when he signed for League Two side Oxford United. That had come after a series of loans away from Albion, who allowed him to join Cheltenham, Northampton, Colchester and Icelandic side Vikingur Reykjavik before Roofe made for the Kassam Stadium.

There, he scored 32 goals in 64 appearances which earned him a move to Leeds United. Again, Roofe hit double figures in two consecutive seasons, including under Marcelo Bielsa as the Whites came up short – as the Baggies did – in the 2019 Championship play-offs. Roofe consequently moved north of the border to Rangers, after that year in Belgium.

Roofe helped Rangers end Celtic’s dominance as they claimed the SPL title in 2021, while he also has Scottish Cup and Scottish League Cup medals to show for his efforts while in Glasgow. He leaves alongside John Lundstram, Borna Barisic, Jon McLaughlin and Ryan Jack.

Rangers said in a short statement: “Everyone at Ibrox and Rangers’ Training Centre thank the departing players for their time at the club and wish them all the very best for their future careers.”