Rangers have clinched the signing of Burnley striker Kyle Lafferty for a fee in excess of £3 million.

Northern Ireland international Lafferty, 20, has signed a five-year contract with the Scottish Cup and CIS Insurance Cup holders.

The deal went through despite Alan Gow's move to Burnley remaining in the balance. The Rangers forward, whose move was initially part of a part-exchange for Lafferty, has still not agreed the terms of his move to Turf Moor.

Lafferty had also been interesting Celtic but they failed to agree a fee with Coca-Cola Championship side Burnley for the highly-rated youngster. Wolves were also keen but were also outbid.

He becomes the third striker to agree a summer move to Rangers, and the most expensive.

Kenny Miller clinched an Ibrox return last week in a £2 million switch from Derby, and former Hearts forward Andrius Velicka will return to the Scottish Premier League after Rangers agreed a fee of around £1 million with Viking Stavanger for the Lithuanian. That deal will be completed next month.

Lafferty is relishing his move to Rangers and admitted he thought the chance had passed him by.

He told the Rangers website: "I'm delighted to be here. The move has been a long time in coming and I'm thrilled to be at the club at last.

"When I heard Rangers were looking at me, I really wanted to join them but there was a point when I thought they had lost interest.

"I heard nothing from them so I was worried the move wouldn't happen and I was delighted when my agent rang me to say Burnley had accepted the bid for me.

"Hopefully I can now show the fans what I can do on the pitch. All of my mates and family are big Rangers fans so they're pleased I'm at the club now."

Lafferty only scored five league goals for Burnley last season but he is considered one of Northern Ireland's hottest prospects in years and will challenge the likes of Kris Boyd, Jean-Claude Darcheville and Nacho Novo, plus his two fellow new boys, for a place in Walter Smith's Rangers attack next season.

He admits it was the night of the UEFA Cup final which convinced him he should sign for Rangers, if the opportunity came up.

"I was at the final in Manchester and the atmosphere there was incredible," he said.

"That helped me make up my mind that I wanted to play for Rangers. The fans were amazing then and playing in Europe is a big attraction for me.

"I want to play at that level and I'm being offered that here."

Sporting Life / Eurosport