Richard Foster has admitted his move to Rangers from Aberdeen came as a complete surprise to him, having started the transfer deadline day unaware of any interest from the SPL champions. The utility man moved to Ibrox on a season-long loan, with striker Andrius Velicka going the other way.

Foster, who is likely to provide cover in both full-back positions for Walter Smith, had been linked with a move to Glasgow last week. But the 25-year-old had ignored the speculation, until he received a phone call with eight hours left of the transfer window.

Within five and a half hours of learning of Rangers’ interest, Foster was confirmed as Smith’s fourth signing of the summer and the player revealed he nearly kept his new club waiting even longer, after only checking his phone out of curiosity.

“I was very surprised,” Foster said of Tuesday’s events. “I didn’t hear anything about it until yesterday [Tuesday] at 4 o’clock. I came back and checked my phone, just out of general interest, and saw I had a few missed calls from my agent.

“I phoned him and he said ‘pack up your things, you might be going to Rangers’. So it just kind of spiralled from there. Eventually by 9pm it was settled.”

The addition of Foster to the Rangers pool will provide essential cover down the flanks in a thin-looking squad, which lost six key players over the summer. Foster becomes the fourth to come in at Ibrox, joining James Beattie, Nikica Jelavic and Vladimir Weiss in joining.

FOSTER MOVES TO RANGERS

• Rangers and Aberdeen confirm Foster and Velicka loan swap

Foster is renowned for his pace and will add another dimension to the Rangers team both in defence and attack. But the loanee insists he is not expecting to walk straight into the side, saying he will have to show he can offer his new boss with another option.

“It’s a small squad but it’s got good quality, especially in the first 11, 12 and 13 players,” said Foster. “Obviously I am under no illusions that I am going to go straight into the team. I realise I am here as a squad player to start with.

“My aim is to show I’ve got something different and then hopefully break through into the team.

“Mostly my strength is my pace. I’m effective as a full back and I like to get forward from that area. I think I can do a job both defensively and offensively from that position.”