Lewis Ferguson has poured cold water on suggestions he came close to leaving Bologna this summer, insisting any talk of a departure was wide of the mark — while making clear that pulling on a Rangers shirt one day remains a dream he has never quite let go of.

The Scotland midfielder, 27, addressed the speculation head-on after a window in which newly-installed Rangers manager Derek McInnes acknowledged an "obvious link" with the player, having previously worked alongside him at Aberdeen. Ferguson's family connection to Ibrox runs deep — his father Derek and uncle Barry both played for the club, with Barry captaining and at one stage managing there — so any hint of movement was always going to catch the eye.

But Ferguson is firm: it simply never got that far.

"I had a long think after the World Cup about my future and I was a little bit unsure," he said, "but nothing was ever that close."

He returned to pre-season at Bologna to find a new manager in Domenico Tedesco, which he describes as feeling like a fresh start. Since then the situation has shifted again — Raffaele Palladino has since taken charge at the club — meaning Ferguson has adapted to three different managers in two months when you factor in Sébastien Pocognoli's arrival with the Scotland setup. Through it all, his conclusion was the same: his immediate future lies in Serie A.

"I had a long think about what my future was going to look like and in the end it was still at Bologna," he said. "I've loved every moment that I've had there. It was just about continuing that journey and seeing where it takes me."

The evidence on the pitch backs up that settled outlook. Ferguson has played every minute of Bologna's five Serie A fixtures so far this season — a significant upturn from last term, when starts became harder to come by under Vincenzo Italiano and he managed just 17 in the league. He is under contract in Italy until 2028, with an option to extend a further year.

His journey to northern Italy was anything but straightforward. Released by Rangers at the age of 14, he rebuilt through Hamilton Academical and then Aberdeen before making the move to Serie A in 2022. He went on to captain Bologna and led the club to their first Coppa Italia triumph in over half a century in 2025 — a remarkable arc for a player who was once shown the door at the club he grew up supporting.

The Ibrox pull remains

None of that, though, has dimmed the affection Ferguson holds for Rangers. He is careful with his words — understandably so, given he is a contracted Bologna player — but the sentiment is genuine.

"It's no secret that I grew up a fan and my family is involved in the club," he said. "It was a dream of mine as a kid and that's not changed — but I don't want to speak about that while I'm a player at Bologna."

He added: "In the future, you never know. It might happen, it might not, but it's always been something in the back of my mind."

For Rangers supporters, that will read as encouragement enough. McInnes spoke in July of the "obvious link" between the club and a player he knows well, and while the noises out of Bologna this week make it clear 2025 was not the moment, Ferguson has left the door very much ajar for whenever the chapter at Bologna eventually closes.

For now, though, he looks rejuvenated in Italy and very much in the plans of his new manager. Serie A keeps him for the foreseeable future. Ibrox waits.

Frequently asked

Is Lewis Ferguson joining Rangers?
No. Ferguson has confirmed that a move away from Bologna this summer never came close, despite reported interest from Rangers. He remains contracted at the Italian club until 2028.
What is Lewis Ferguson's connection to Rangers?
Ferguson grew up a Rangers supporter and was released by the club at 14. His father Derek and uncle Barry both played for Rangers, with Barry also serving as captain and caretaker manager at Ibrox.
How has Lewis Ferguson been performing at Bologna this season?
Ferguson has played every minute of Bologna's first five Serie A games of the 2025-26 season — a strong start after a frustrating previous campaign in which he managed just 17 league starts.