According to Tera Deportes, José Cifuentes has traveled to Greece and is set to leave Rangers to join Aris Thessaloniki. The Ecuadorian news outlet reported on August 9 that the 25-year-old will undergo a medical examination and sign a contract to complete the transfer.

Cifuentes has agreed to end his stay at Cruzeiro and will join the Greek side on loan with a mandatory purchase option. He will follow several other players—Sam Lammers, John Lundstram, Ryan Jack, Borna Barisic, Connor Goldson, and Kemar Roofe—out of the club.

Tera Deportes also mentioned on X: “Ecuadorian José Cifuentes will sign with Aris in Greece, where his compatriot Kike Saverio plays, and which competes in the country’s top division. Cifuentes arrives on loan until December with an obligation to buy. He has already traveled to Greece to undergo a medical examination and sign his new contract.”

Reflecting on Rangers’ decision to sign Cifuentes in 2023, it appears to have been a questionable move that did not meet expectations. Despite his promising performances in MLS with LAFC, he struggled to replicate that success in Scotland.

The limited playing time and underwhelming performances showed a mismatch between his abilities and the needs of the Ibrox club. The loan move to Cruzeiro further suggested a lack of confidence in his ability to adapt to Scottish football.

The subsequent loan to Aris Thessaloniki indicates that Rangers are eager to move on from a player who did not live up to expectations. In hindsight, more thorough due diligence on Cifuentes’ fit for their style of play and the Scottish Premiership may have been beneficial.