FEW Rangers players over the years have drawn as many gasps of astonishment from the Ibrox crowd as Joe Aribo.

Whether the Nigerian was leaving opponents tied in knots with his box of tricks, or controlling a 40-yard raking pass with one eye on his next move, the 25-year-old was one of a kind during his time in Glasgow.

As Aribo prepares to trade Ibrox for the luxuries of the English Premier League, the Rangers Review takes a look at the moments that made him in Glasgow.

Euphoria in Seville

Although history will forever tinge Aribo’s opener in the Europa League final with sadness, arguably no Rangers goal in modern history has delivered such visceral joy as the Nigerian’s in Seville that evening.

Profiting from a slip in the Eintracht Frankfurt ranks, the 25-year-old showed incredible composure given the circumstances to slow his mind down and stroke a calm finish under Kevin Trapp.

It was reward for a selfless Europa League knockout stage campaign where, amid injuries to both Alfredo Morelos and Kemar Roofe, Aribo filled in at centre forward in both the semi-final and final.

His face amid the celebrations told its own story. Despite the heartbreak that will be forever associated with that evening, the Nigerian inhabits a special place in Rangers folklore.

Braga Brilliance

With the Ibrox crowd urging their side forward, Aribo took matters into his own hands to complete a famous comeback against Braga in the Europa League last 32 in 2020.

Picking up the ball on the left, the Nigerian played a give-and-go with Ianis Hagi. Faced with a crowd of Braga defenders, Aribo jinked past one, before evading another with a chop onto his left foot. A third defender was left ball-watching as the Nigerian weaved his way into the penalty area, shifting the ball onto his left side before coolly stroking under the goalkeeper.

The solo strike was even more special considering the 25-year-old was operating as a left-back following injury to Borna Barisic. Wherever Aribo was stationed on the pitch, he was always capable of the sublime.

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The heavenly Tynecastle first touch

As Connor Goldson lifted his head, he spotted the movement of Aribo in attack. Floating the ball towards the Nigerian, what happened next wowed just about every supporter – regardless of allegiance – inside Tynecastle.

Tracking the ball over his shoulder, the 25-year-old controlled the pass with his left foot and, in one fell swoop, picked out the far corner of the goal.

It was a gorgeous piece of skill from the Nigerian, doubling Rangers’ advantage on the afternoon and setting his side well on their way to a fourth successive league victory under Giovanni van Bronckhorst.

Street football at Ibrox

The influence of street football in the modern game has rapidly grown, with its unique environment helping to mould stars such as Aribo. The Nigerian’s strike in the 5-0 rout of Ross County in January 2021 underlined those very qualities honed on the streets of London.

Seemingly boxed in on the byline, the midfielder jinked inside his marker. Shaping to shoot, he hoodwinked another County defender, before guiding a sumptuous curling effort into the far corner from a near-impossible angle.

The Nigerian’s penchant for the spectacular – trademarking those curling efforts from the edge of the penalty box – was such that the goal barely shocked those Rangers fans watching from home. Aribo certainly provided the sprinkling of flare en route to the club’s 55th league title.

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Livingston cracker 

With van Bronckhorst making his league bow as Rangers manager, Aribo immediately endeared himself to the Dutchman with a sublime strike en route to victory at Livingston.

Scott Arfield had opened the scoring minutes earlier, and it was the Nigerian – in similar fashion to his strike at Tynecastle a few weeks later – who took the game by the scruff of the neck to settle any anxiety among the Rangers faithful.

The Gers worked the ball from left to right, and back infield again, before Aribo, on his toes on the edge of the penalty area, lifted a gorgeous effort in off the underside of the crossbar.

The goal proved to be the beginning of the best run of Aribo’s Rangers career, with the 25-year-old netting four goals and laying on as many assists during that winter period last season.