Cammy Devlin Opens Up on Derek McInnes’ Powerful First Words to Him the Moment He Arrived at Ibrox to Complete His Rangers Move.

Cammy Devlin has lifted the lid on the powerful first words Derek McInnes delivered to him the moment he walked through the doors at Ibrox to seal his move to Rangers, with the manager wasting no time in making his expectations crystal clear.

The 28-year-old Australia international has completed his free transfer from Hearts, signing a two-year deal with the option of an additional 12 months. Devlin becomes the sixth summer signing and the third arrival from Tynecastle, following captain Lawrence Shankland and manager McInnes himself, as the Rangers revolution continues to gather pace.

Devlin revealed that McInnes greeted him with a direct and deeply powerful message, making it abundantly clear that the move was based on genuine belief in the player’s abilities and a shared ambition to finally achieve silverware together.

“He told me straight away: ‘Cammy, I know you, and I know exactly what you’ll bring to this club’,” Devlin shared.

The Rangers boss went on to deliver a line that struck a chord with the Australian midfielder. “He looked me in the eye and said: ‘We didn’t get it done at Hearts, but we’ll surely do it here. That’s why I’ve brought you to win trophies’.”

McInnes also praised the midfielder’s remarkable consistency, stating: “Your levels have been superb, and you’re the type of player every manager wants in his dressing room. Your work rate, your attitude, your hunger that’s exactly what we need here.”

The manager offered immediate reassurance about the step up to Ibrox, telling Devlin: “You know this league inside out. Nothing here is going to surprise you, and that’s why I had no hesitation in bringing you here.”

The Australian international admitted that McInnes’ words put him at ease from the very first moment and reinforced his decision to make the switch to Glasgow.

“For the gaffer to say that to me as soon as I arrived, it settled me straight away,” Devlin explained. “When you come to a club as big as Rangers, there’s always that bit of nerves. But hearing him say he believes in me, that he knows exactly what I’m about, that meant everything. It took all the doubt away.”

Devlin also revealed that McInnes played a pivotal role in his development during their time together at Hearts, and that relationship was a major factor in his decision to follow the manager to Ibrox.

“He gave me confidence and a sense of freedom to go out there and express myself. I really enjoyed my football under him, so when he gave me the call to say this was possible, I was excited from that very moment,” Devlin said.

It was during that first conversation at Ibrox that McInnes delivered his most powerful message yet one that Devlin admits will stay with him throughout his Rangers career.

“The gaffer m said: ‘Look, we were so close at Hearts. We had that dressing room buzzing, we had the belief, we had everything going for us. But in the end, we came up short. That hurts. It hurts me, it hurts you, it hurts Shanks. But I didn’t bring you here to feel that pain again.’

“He told me: ‘We didn’t do it at Hearts, but we will do it here. I promise you that. This club is built for winning, and I’m bringing in people who know how to fight for it. You, Shanks, the others we’re going to finish what we started.’

Devlin continued: “When he said that, I felt a shiver down my spine. It wasn’t just words. You could see it in his eyes  the determination, the hunger. He genuinely believes we can achieve something special here, and that belief is contagious. That conversation changed everything for me. It made me realise this wasn’t just a move to a bigger club. This was about unfinished business. This was about finally getting over the line.”

Devlin also spoke warmly about linking up again with former Hearts captain Lawrence Shankland, who made the same switch earlier in the window. The pair came agonisingly close to winning the Premiership with Hearts last season, and the midfielder believes they have unfinished business together.

“Shanks had been linked with Rangers every single window since I’ve been at Hearts,” Devlin said. “I know he’s absolutely buzzing to be here. We’re really good mates and we share the same ambition. We were so close at Hearts, but it didn’t happen. Now we’ve got another chance to do something special, and we’re determined not to let it slip.”

The statistics underline why McInnes was so determined to secure his signature. Last season, Devlin made the most tackles per 90 minutes in the Scottish Premiership and ranked second among midfielders for interceptions, defensive contributions, and recoveries.

Despite some fan concerns about his work on the ball in a possession-dominant side, only four Premiership midfielders completed more accurate passes per 90 minutes than Devlin last season  one of whom was Rangers’ Nicolas Raskin.

Devlin made 176 appearances for Hearts across five seasons and was a key figure as the Edinburgh club came agonisingly close to a historic league triumph last campaign. He also represented Australia at the 2026 World Cup.

While some Rangers supporters have expressed reservations about the number of players arriving from Hearts, Devlin is determined to win them over with his performances on the pitch.

“I understand the fans’ concerns this is Rangers, one of the biggest clubs in the world, and they expect the best,” Devlin acknowledged. “But I’m here to give everything, to leave it all out there every single game. I’m ready to prove myself.”

The midfielder will join up with his new teammates after a holiday break following his international commitments. McInnes confirmed he is “looking forward to welcoming Cammy to Rangers and working with him again after he returns from his holiday.”

Devlin’s arrival is the latest piece in McInnes’ rebuilding project at Rangers, with the manager reshaping the squad to challenge on all fronts this season. With the Premiership campaign fast approaching and European football on the horizon, the Australian midfielder will be eager to hit the ground running.

“It’s an absolute honour and privilege to be here,” Devlin concluded. “I can’t wait to pull on that jersey, walk out at Ibrox in front of the fans, and give absolutely everything for this club. The gaffer believed in me from day one, and now it’s time to show ev

eryone why. We didn’t finish the job at Hearts, but here we’ll make sure we do.”