Lewis Ferguson has moved to cool speculation over a summer move away from Bologna, insisting the links to Rangers never amounted to anything concrete — even as he acknowledges that a return to Ibrox remains a dream he has carried since childhood.

The Scotland midfielder, who turns 28 this season, admits he spent time after the World Cup reassessing his future, but says the noise surrounding a potential switch to his boyhood club was never matched by any genuine proximity to a deal.

"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've loved every moment that I've had there. It was just about continuing that journey and seeing where it takes me."

Fresh start under new management

Part of what settled the matter was the managerial change at Bologna. Domenico Tedesco came in ahead of pre-season and, by Ferguson's account, gave the squad a renewed sense of purpose. Since then, Raffaele Palladino has since taken the reins — meaning Ferguson has worked under three different managers in the space of two months, including Scotland head coach Sebastien Pocognoli.

The upheaval might have unsettled some, but Ferguson appears energised. He has played every minute of Bologna's five Serie A fixtures so far this season, a sharp contrast to last term when starts were harder to come by under Vincenzo Italiano, with just 17 league appearances.

His current contract at the Stadio Renato Dall'Ara runs until 2028, with an option to extend by a further year — the kind of security that makes a cut-price exit look unlikely in any case. Earlier this year he captained the club to their first Coppa Italia triumph in more than half a century, a landmark moment for Bologna and a marker of just how far Ferguson has travelled since being released by Rangers as a 14-year-old.

The Ibrox connection runs deep

That release, of course, is the detail that makes the romantic narrative so compelling for supporters. Ferguson went on to carve out a career at Hamilton Academical and then Aberdeen before making the move to Serie A in 2022. His father Derek and uncle Barry both wore the blue of Rangers — Barry captaining and later managing the club — so the Ibrox thread is woven into the family story whether Ferguson is in Glasgow or Bologna.

When Derek McInnes was appointed Rangers manager in the summer, he was open about what he called an "obvious link" to Ferguson, the two having worked together at Aberdeen. That comment, predictably, sent the market into a spin of speculation.

Ferguson, for his part, is careful not to feed it while he remains under contract in Italy. "It's no secret that I grew up a fan and my family is involved in the club. It was a dream of mine as a kid and that's not changed," he said. "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 my mind."

Bologna's man for now

For the time being, Bologna have a captain who is committed, starting every game this season and clearly motivated under the new regime. Rangers supporters will keep the dream alive from a distance, and the noises out of Ferguson's camp suggest he shares it — just not on any timetable that suits a winter window headline.

His path from Ibrox reject to Coppa Italia winner has been anything but conventional. Whatever comes next, it is hard to argue it has not been worth the wait.

Frequently asked

Is Lewis Ferguson joining Rangers?
Ferguson says a move to Rangers this summer was never close to happening. He remains contracted to Bologna until 2028 and has played every minute of their Serie A season so far.
Why was Lewis Ferguson linked with Rangers?
Ferguson grew up a Rangers fan and was released by the club as a 14-year-old. His father Derek and uncle Barry both played for Rangers, and new Ibrox boss Derek McInnes worked with Ferguson at Aberdeen, publicly acknowledging an "obvious link".
What has Lewis Ferguson won at Bologna?
Ferguson captained Bologna to the Coppa Italia in 2025 — the club's first domestic cup triumph in over 50 years — and has been a first-team regular since joining from Aberdeen in 2022.