Jose Cifuentes, a Rangers player who has struggled to make an impact since his £1.2 million transfer from Los Angeles FC, is set to embark on a new European challenge after ending his loan spell in Brazil early.

The 25-year-old central midfielder, who joined Rangers with high expectations, has had difficulty adapting to Scottish football under the previous manager Michael Beale and the current boss Philippe Clement. Cifuentes managed only 20 appearances for Rangers before being loaned out to Cruzeiro for the winter transfer window.

His loan with Cruzeiro, which was meant to last a year, is now being cut short as he prepares to move to Aris Thessaloniki in Greece. According to the Daily Record, Cifuentes is expected to join Aris on a new season-long loan with an obligation for the Greek club to buy him next summer. The reported transfer fee is around €5 million (£4.2 million), with Cifuentes under contract with Rangers until 2027.

Cifuentes’ time at Cruzeiro has also been disappointing, with most of his 12 appearances coming as a substitute. Although Cruzeiro had an option to buy him, it seems unlikely they will exercise it. The move to Aris Thessaloniki offers Cifuentes a potential fresh start.

Despite his struggles at the club level, Cifuentes was called up to the Ecuador national team for the 2024 Copa America, though he did not feature in any matches before his team was eliminated in the quarter-finals. A source close to the deal commented that while Cifuentes faced challenges adapting to Scottish football, the move to Aris Thessaloniki could be a promising new opportunity for him, given his youth and potential.