STEVEN Davis has admitted the summer-long transfer saga that finally saw him become a Rangers player "took its toll".
The Northern Ireland midfielder, 23, completed the formalities of his switch from Fulham by signing a four-year contract with the Clydesdale Bank Premier League giants.
Davis, who starred at Ibrox in a loan spell during the second half of last sea
son, was thrilled to be back on a permanent basis following months of uncertainty over his future.
"I'm delighted. It's been ongoing all summer and great to get it finally done and dusted," he told Rangers World after joining for a fee believed to be in the region of £3million.
"It's been on and off all summer and I've been hearing bits and pieces throughout that time. It's good finally to get everything signed and be able to concentrate on the football. You don't know what's going to happen and it took its toll."
Davis helped Rangers win two domestic cups and stage an incredible quadruple challenge towards the end of last term.
He added: "I thoroughly enjoyed my time here. It's a great club and I'm just glad to be a part of it again. I look forward to playing for the club for the next four years."
Davis is the fourth midfielder to join Rangers in just over a week and he believes the summer influx bodes well.
He said: "There's a good group of players and good players coming in to add to the quality that's already here. So hopefully a good season ahead."
Davis insisted he was not put off signing by Rangers' shock Champions League exit to FBK Kaunas and is determined to help them make amends by regaining the SPL title.
"I had an eye on the games and was disappointed when the lads went out," he said.
"In the short-term, we'll have to concentrate on the league – that's the big one this year.
"We'll be fully focused on getting the title back. After that, if we get back into Europe then we'll concentrate on that."
Davis could make his second Rangers debut in tomorrow's trip to Aberdeen, the venue of one of his most painful memories as a player.
The midfielder was part of the side beaten at Pittodrie on the final day of the last SPL season, when Celtic won a third straight championship after overhauling their rivals at the death.
Davis said: "That was a big disappointment. We had a lot of games towards the end of the season – that probably took its toll. It was still a major disappointment in the position we found ourselves in to lose it in the end."
Fulham manager Roy Hodgson was sorry to see Davis go but insisted he could not offer the first-team football that would justify keeping the player at Craven Cottage.
"It was the right move for Steven. He went to Rangers on loan last season and did extremely well," Hodgson said. "If I'd been able to guarantee him half the first-team games at Fulham, I'd have been tempted to persuade him to stay. But I couldn't be sure of doing that and I didn't want to ruin his chances of joining a great club where he's already made a name for himself."
Meanwhile, Hodgson also confirmed Fulham striker David Healy was due to undergo a medical at Sunderland yesterday with a view to joining Roy Keane's side.
The full article contains 582 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
