Alnwick joins Gers from Port Vale for £250k

Rangers have completed the signing of goalkeeper Jak Alnwick for £250,000 from Port Vale.

Alnwick, who becomes Rangers third signing of the January window, moves north on a three-and-a-half-year contract and will compete with Wes Foderingham for the number one jersey. The former Newcastle keeper started his career with Sunderland before crossing the Tyne to join Newcastle, where he made his senior breakthrough. Loan stints at Gateshead and Bradford City followed before a move to Port Vale in 2015.

Quickly becoming a fan favourite at Vale Park Alnwick was appointed co-captain last summer and made 79 appearances for the Burslem side. Alnwick has also won representative honours for England at U17 & U18 levels and was back-up to Jack Butland for the U20 World Cup in 2011 in Colombia.

The signing of another goalkeeper has also cleared the way for Matt Gilks to complete a move to Wigan as the former Burnley ‘keeper grew unhappy at his lack of first-team football.