A fresh start beckons for veteran defender Leon Balogun, as Cypriot side Aris Limassol move closer to agreeing terms with the former Rangers centre‑back. Released by the Ibrox club this summer, the 36 year old is in advanced discussions to join teammate Connor Goldson in Cyprus, as Aris intensify efforts to challenge for the league title next season.
Balogun and Goldson formed a solid partnership in central defence at Rangers, playing key roles in the team’s 2022 Scottish Cup success and 2023 League Cup triumph. Now set to reunite at Alphamega Stadium, Balogun would provide experience and leadership to a side eager to climb from near‑title misses to champions.
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At 36, Balogun’s leadership and aerial prowess align with Aris’s ambitions. Having already secured Goldson last summer, the club appear determined to fortify their back line and make a statement of intent in Cyprus’s top flight.
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Editorial
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We observe this potential transfer with optimism. Leon Balogun’s link‑up with Connor Goldson in Cyprus suggests Aris Limassol are building not just a team, but a defensive nucleus rooted in chemistry and experience. This is a mark of strategy, not chance.
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We note that Balogun brings more than defensive solidity he exudes leadership, at times igniting the collective spirit needed to win tight matches. In pairing him with whom he knows intimately Aris forge a rearguard shaped by unity and understanding.
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We also see a shift in ambition across the Cypriot league. Aris’s aim to follow their domestic cup highs with a title challenge indicates a club entering a new phase. Bringing in veterans with pedigree rather than relying solely on fringe stars signals their desire to compete, not merely participate.
We believe this duo’s presence will raise standards across the squad, creating ripples of professionalism and expectation. Balogun’s arrival would not conclude this project it would deepen it. And so, our confidence stands Aris Limassol are building a foundation capable of sustaining championship aspirations.
Did You Know?
Leon Balogun has won seven major trophies, including Scotland’s League Cup and Scottish Cup with Rangers.
Connor Goldson made over 300 [appearances](https://www.footballinnigeria.com.ng/news/transfer-news/yobo-premier-league-move-to-everton-ideal-for-moses-simon/) for Rangers, and joined Aris in July 2024 on a three‑year deal.
Aris Limassol claimed their first-ever Cypriot First Division title in 2022–23, entering European competition for the first time.
Balogun earned his 68th cap for Nigeria in 2023, making him one of the country’s most capped defenders.
At 36, Balogun would become one of the oldest players in the Cypriot First Division when the season starts.