Ex Rangers star makes deadline day transfer to English club as boss concedes 'we didn’t think it was possible'
Winger insits his early conversations with Rochdale’s head coach convinced him a permanent transfer to Spotland was the right one
A former Rangers, Hibs and Dundee United winger has completed a permanent deadline day move to EFL League Two side Rochdale.
Glenn Middleton made 35 appearances in the English third-tier for Doncaster Rovers last season, but the 26-year-old is now embarking on a fresh challenge in Greater Manchester after agreeing a contract that will keep him at Spotland Stadium until the summer of 2027.
Middleton bringing extensive experience from both the English and Scottish game and will now work under Rochdale head coach Ian Watson, who believes the former Ibrox starlet can make a significant impact.
“Glenn’s got pace, experience and has performed really well in League One and in Scotland as well,” he said. “He’s a huge signing for us, and we’re excited to get him in. He was one of the first players we looked at earlier in the summer, and we didn’t think it was going to be possible, so big credit to the Club for being able to get it done.”
For Middleton, his latest move represents another step in a career which has taken him between England and Scotland — but it was his return to Glasgow and move to Rangers that represented one of the most significant moments in his development.
Born in Glasgow, Middleton moved with his family to the Northampton area at an early age and spent time in Northampton Town’s academy before joining Norwich City in 2012. He progressed through the Canaries' youth system and earned a scholarship before making the move that would fulfil a childhood ambition.
In January 2018, Middleton returned to Glasgow to join Rangers, the club he had supported as a youngster. The wide man made his first-team debut just months later, featuring in a Europa League qualifier against FK Shkupi of North Macedonia in July 2018.
That proved to be the beginning of a breakthrough season for Middleton, who went on to make 28 appearances for Rangers across all competitions during the 2018/19 campaign.
Although opportunities at Ibrox became harder to come by, Middleton continued his progress through loan spells at Hibs, Bradford City and St Johnstone. He eventually departed Rangers on a permanent basis in 2022, joining Dundee United to extend his career in Scottish football.
Middleton played a key role in the Tangerines' promotion campaign during his second season at Tannadice, helping United return to the Premiership at the first attempt. His performances subsequently earned him a move back down south, with Doncaster snapping him up last summer.
He quickly became a regular for Rovers and finished his first season with 46 appearances in all competitions as Doncaster ended the campaign in 14th place.
Now Rochdale will hope to benefit from the experience Middleton has accumulated during his career. And the winger admits his early conversations with Watson convinced him that the move was the right one.
“I’m delighted to be here,” he told the club’s website. “I had great first discussions with the manager. He’s very clear on what he has set out to do this season, and for that I’m looking forward to it. I like to be as direct as I can with the ball. I want to create chances for others and hopefully score a few myself.”
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