DEREK RIORDAN REVEALS RANGERS TRIED TO SIGN HIM TWICE — BUT ONE THING STOPPED THE DEAL

Derek Riordan has lifted the lid on a forgotten chapter of his football career, revealing that Rangers attempted to sign him twice before he eventually joined Celtic in 2006. According to the former Scotland international, both moves collapsed because Rangers failed to offer Hibernian enough money.
The revelation adds a fascinating twist to one of Scottish football’s most intriguing transfer stories. Riordan became a familiar name among Hibernian supporters before moving to Celtic, but his latest comments suggest that his career could have taken a very different direction had Rangers met Hibs’ financial demands.
Speaking on the Open Goal podcast, Riordan explained that Rangers had more than one opportunity to bring him to Ibrox. However, the club never offered enough to convince Hibernian to sanction the transfer.
The former striker also admitted that he had several other opportunities to continue his career in England, mentioning Cardiff City and Leeds United among the clubs he could have joined.
His comments offer a fresh perspective on a career filled with important decisions, difficult transitions, and opportunities that might have changed his footballing legacy.
DEREK RIORDAN CONFIRMS RANGERS MADE TWO ATTEMPTS TO SIGN HIM
Riordan’s latest revelation is particularly interesting because it involves two of Scotland’s biggest football clubs.
During his time at Hibernian, the forward established himself as a dangerous attacking player and attracted attention beyond Edinburgh. His performances made him an attractive option for clubs looking to strengthen their forward lines.
According to Riordan, Rangers attempted to secure his services on two occasions.
However, the former Celtic striker made it clear that the proposed transfers never progressed because Rangers did not offer Hibernian enough money.
“Rangers tried to get me, I think twice,” Riordan explained on Open Goal, according to the report published by the Daily Record on October 13, 2026.
“They never paid enough [to Hibs]. I wasn’t desperate to go.”
That final comment is important. Riordan’s explanation suggests that a move to Rangers was not something he felt compelled to pursue at all costs.
Even if the Glasgow rivals had reached an agreement with Hibernian, the transfer would still have depended on the circumstances surrounding the move and Riordan’s own preferences.
His recollection also highlights a familiar reality in football: interest from a major club does not automatically result in a transfer. Valuation disagreements, contract negotiations, and a player’s ambitions can all determine whether a deal becomes reality.
WHY RANGERS MAY HAVE MISSED AN OPPORTUNITY
Riordan’s comments raise an obvious question: could Rangers have benefited from signing him earlier in his career?
The striker had already demonstrated his attacking qualities at Hibernian, making him an appealing prospect for clubs competing at the top of Scottish football.
For Rangers, signing a proven domestic attacker could have offered several potential benefits. A player familiar with Scottish football might have needed less time to adapt than someone arriving from another league, while his existing experience could have provided additional attacking options.
However, it would be unfair to conclude that Rangers made a mistake simply because the transfer did not happen.
Transfer decisions depend on more than a player’s reputation. Clubs must assess the asking price, wage demands, tactical suitability, squad depth, and the likelihood that a signing will improve the team.
If Rangers believed Hibernian’s valuation was too high, refusing to meet it may have reflected their assessment of the deal rather than a failure to recognise Riordan’s talent.
The more interesting point is that Rangers apparently returned to the possibility of signing him more than once.
That suggests the forward remained an option worth considering, even though the clubs could not reach an agreement.
HOW DEREK RIORDAN EVENTUALLY ENDED UP AT CELTIC
Riordan’s career ultimately took him to Celtic in 2006 after he had established his reputation at Hibernian.
The move brought him into one of Scottish football’s most demanding environments, where the expectations surrounding players are exceptionally high.
At Celtic, competition for places and the pressure to deliver results made it difficult for any attacking player to enjoy a guaranteed starting role.
Riordan struggled to make the impact he would have wanted under manager Gordon Strachan. Although the transfer represented a major career milestone, it did not develop into the defining success he might have imagined.
His experience illustrates an important distinction in football: earning a move to a major club and becoming a regular, influential player are two very different achievements.
A footballer can possess obvious technical ability and a strong record at a smaller club but still struggle to reproduce that form after moving into a more competitive squad.
For Riordan, the Celtic move became a significant chapter in his career, but it also demonstrated how difficult it can be to establish yourself when opportunities are limited.
Had Rangers completed a deal earlier, his career might have followed a different path. Nevertheless, there is no guarantee that he would have enjoyed greater success at Ibrox.
RANGERS, CELTIC AND THE IMPORTANCE OF TRANSFER TIMING
The story is particularly relevant because of the rivalry between Rangers and Celtic.
Transfers involving either club attract attention because the consequences can extend beyond an individual player. A successful signing can strengthen a title challenge, provide additional options for European competition, and potentially deny a direct rival access to a valuable player.
Riordan’s case demonstrates how timing can influence a footballer’s career.
At the point when Rangers reportedly tried to sign him, Hibernian held the contractual position necessary to negotiate a transfer. Without an acceptable offer, the club had little reason to release a player it valued.
Celtic eventually secured Riordan’s signature in 2006, but the move came with a different set of expectations and challenges.
For supporters, it is tempting to imagine how a transfer might have changed the balance between the Glasgow rivals. Yet football history rarely allows such straightforward conclusions.
A player’s development depends on coaching, playing time, tactical roles, teammates, injuries, and personal circumstances.
Riordan could have thrived at Rangers, struggled there, or experienced a career similar to the one he had at Celtic. The available information does not establish which outcome would have occurred.
What it does show is that financial negotiations can shape the careers of players and influence the decisions made by rival clubs.
RIORDAN ALSO REVEALS MISSED OPPORTUNITIES IN ENGLISH FOOTBALL
The Rangers revelation was not the only interesting part of Riordan’s account.
The former Scotland international also disclosed that he had several opportunities to continue his career in England, naming Cardiff City and Leeds United among the clubs he could have joined.
Looking back, Riordan admitted that he sometimes wondered why he had not taken one of those opportunities.
He reflected on how priorities can change as a person grows older and takes on greater responsibilities, including raising children.
His comments provide a reminder that football decisions are not always made through a purely financial or sporting calculation.
For a young player, remaining in familiar surroundings or joining a club in a preferred environment may feel more important than considering long-term earnings or the possibility of playing in another country.
With hindsight, different opportunities can appear more attractive. However, those decisions were made with the information and priorities Riordan had at the time.
A move to England might have exposed him to a different style of football and a new professional environment. Whether that would have improved his career is impossible to know.
Still, the fact that he had several options reinforces the reputation he had built during his time at Hibernian.
HIS EXPERIENCE IN CHINA ADDED ANOTHER UNEXPECTED CHAPTER
After leaving Celtic, Riordan returned to Hibernian for a three-year spell before moving to Chinese side Beijing Chengfeng.
The move represented another major change in his footballing journey, taking him into a different country and playing environment.
However, the experience was not particularly enjoyable.
Riordan described his time in China as difficult, saying that the football was poor and that the condition of some playing surfaces made the experience even more frustrating.
He also recalled working under two Serbian managers whom he felt were not suited to their roles.
Despite the challenges, his account provides an insight into the adjustments players can face when moving abroad.
Footballers who leave familiar leagues must often adapt to different tactical approaches, training standards, living conditions, communication styles, and expectations.
A move that appears attractive on paper can become difficult if the sporting environment does not match a player’s needs.
Riordan’s experience is another example of why career decisions cannot be judged solely by the reputation of a club or the appeal of playing overseas.
WHAT RIORDAN’S REVELATION MEANS FOR SCOTTISH FOOTBALL HISTORY
The most compelling aspect of Riordan’s story is not simply that Rangers wanted him.
It is that the proposed transfers could have changed the way supporters remember his career.
A move to Rangers would have placed him on the opposite side of the Old Firm rivalry from the club he eventually joined. That alone would have made his career trajectory a major talking point among Scottish football supporters.
His comments also bring attention back to Hibernian’s role in developing players who attract interest from Scotland’s biggest clubs.
For clubs outside the Old Firm, selling an important player can create a difficult balancing act. A substantial transfer fee may provide money to strengthen several positions, but losing a key attacker can weaken the team and disappoint supporters.
The decision depends on the offer, the player’s contract, the availability of replacements, and the club’s broader ambitions.
In Riordan’s case, Hibernian’s valuation appears to have been the central obstacle to a Rangers transfer.
That detail is significant because it reminds fans that even major clubs cannot always get the players they want. Negotiating power belongs to the selling club as well as the prospective buyer.
COULD RANGERS AND CELTIC FANS VIEW RIORDAN’S CAREER DIFFERENTLY?
Riordan’s revelation is likely to prompt different reactions from supporters of both clubs.
Rangers fans may wonder whether signing him earlier would have given their team another attacking option during an important period in Scottish football.
Celtic supporters may instead focus on the fact that Riordan ultimately chose a career path that took him to Parkhead, even though his time there did not produce the impact he might have hoped for.
Hibernian supporters have another reason to revisit the story: it highlights the interest their former striker attracted and the financial considerations involved in keeping or selling a player of his profile.
Ultimately, any debate about what might have happened should recognise the uncertainty involved.
A transfer can change a player’s opportunities, but it does not automatically change their level of performance. The coaching environment, competition for places, and tactical responsibilities all matter.
Riordan’s story is interesting precisely because the alternative paths remain unanswered questions.
FINAL VERDICT: A TRANSFER THAT NEVER HAPPENED STILL TELLS AN IMPORTANT STORY
Derek Riordan’s revelation that Rangers tried to sign him twice before his eventual move to Celtic offers a fascinating look at the decisions that shaped his football career.
According to the former striker, both Rangers approaches fell short of Hibernian’s financial demands, while he also had opportunities to move to English clubs such as Cardiff City and Leeds United.
His career eventually took him to Celtic, back to Hibernian, and later to China and other footballing destinations.
Looking back, it is easy to imagine alternative outcomes. A move to Rangers might have changed his relationship with supporters, his playing opportunities, and the way his career is remembered.
But the facts establish only that the approaches did not produce a deal, not that either club missed a guaranteed success.
The wider lesson is that football careers are shaped by a combination of talent, timing, negotiations, and personal choices. Sometimes, the transfers that never happen become just as interesting as the ones that do.