Ferguson holds onto Rangers dream but remains committed to Bologna

Lewis Ferguson remains committed to Bologna after a summer of speculation saw him linked with a return to boyhood club Rangers. 

But Ferguson, who was released by the Glasgow giants when he was 14, does have aspirations of returning to Ibrox should the opportunity arise at the right time.

Following his release from Rangers, Ferguson came through the ranks at Hamilton Academical before making the move to Aberdeen in 2018. 

The 27-year-old spent four years at the club before moving to Serie A with Bologna, where he has gone on to make 140 appearances across all competitions. 

He captained the side to their first Coppa Italia crown since 1974 in 2024-25, with Bologna becoming the first team to win 100% of their matches in a single Coppa Italia edition since Juventus did so in 2017-18.

Ferguson fell out of favour under Vincenzo Italiano last term, starting on 32 of his 45 appearances in all competitions, with his future subsequently called into question.

Asked about links to Rangers, Ferguson said: "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.

"When I went back for pre-season, we had a new manager [Domenico Tedesco], and it was like a fresh start.

"We have changed again since [with Raffaele Palladino], so I've had three new managers in the last two months [including Sebastien Pocognoli with Scotland].

"I had a long think about what my future was going to look like and in the end it was still at Bologna.

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

Ferguson has started all five of Bologna's Serie A matches in 2026-27, amassing 450 minutes of action, though the club sit 18th after a difficult start. 

Bologna have managed just two points from their first five league matches, their second-worst start to a Serie A campaign, only managing fewer in 2011-12 (one point). 

The Scotland international still has two years left on his Bologna contract, with the option of another 12 months, though he still has plenty of connections with Rangers. 

His father, Derek, and uncle, Barry, both played for Rangers, with the latter captaining and at one stage managing the Gers.

New Rangers boss Derek McInnes spoke of another obvious link to Ferguson, with the pair having worked together during their time at Aberdeen. 

On his bond with Rangers, Ferguson added: "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, 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."