Rangers swoop for Svensson

Rangers have completed the signing of Sweden defender Karl Svensson.

The 22-year-old IFK Gothenburg captain becomes new manager Paul Le Guen's second major signing after agreeing a three-year deal with the Ibrox club.

The highly-rated centre back, who will travel to Germany for the World Cup next month, had attracted widespread interest on the back of some eye-catching domestic displays.

Rangers are believed to have beaten off competition from all around Europe to secure his signature.

Svensson now looks set to partner Julien Rodriguez at the heart of the Rangers defence next term.

"I am delighted to be joining Rangers," he said. "This is a great move for me.

"I really enjoyed my two years with Gothenburg and I will always be thankful to them but this is a chance for me to move in the right direction and progress my career.

"Rangers are a very big club and I know a lot about them. We get Rangers v Celtic games on TV in Sweden so I have already seen what it's like at Ibrox.

"It's an atmosphere I really want to sample. It looks fantastic and I can't wait to be involved."

Svensson also revealed that he was looking forward to working with Le Guen, a manager he admires greatly.

"I met with Paul Le Guen and he made me feel good right away," he enthused. "I know all about him because he had such great success with Lyon in France winning three titles in a row.

"It is going to be excellent to work with him at Rangers and I really look forward to coming to Scotland."

Le Guen feels that Svensson has all the attributes to become a key figure at Rangers.

"I know Karl and I am pleased we have signed him," he told the club's official website.

"He has a good mentality and he has progressed quickly as a player. I feel we can make him an even better player.

"Perhaps he can be a good partner for Julien Rodriguez, but it is up to him to show that he deserves his place in the team.

"He is strong and I think he has the right profile to play in Scotland."

Le Guen swooped for Czech Republic star Libor Sionko last week, and is expected to raid the continent further ahead of the new SPL season.