Rangers centre-back David Bates has signed a four-year contract to join Bundesliga side Hamburg this summer on a free transfer, and fans have taken to Twitter to slam the club for failing to tie him down to a new deal.
The 21-year-old’s contract at Ibrox was coming to an end this summer after joining in January 2017, and he has now opted to take his talents abroad to Germany.
Bates has signed a pre-contract agreement with the Bundesliga strugglers that will see him join up with them this summer on a four-year deal.
Hamburg revealed the news on their Twitter account on Thursday afternoon, with Bates to join the club regardless of whether they are relegated this term:
? Fix! Unser erster Neuzugang für die kommende Saison steht fest. Wir verpflichten den schottischen Innenverteidiger @DavidBates_ von @RangersFC, der bei uns einen Vierjahresvertrag erhält. Der Kontrakt gilt ligaunabhängig. #nurderHSV
? https://t.co/Fa3ps978AH pic.twitter.com/hKqiEnHmW1— Hamburger SV (@HSV) April 12, 2018
Hamburg are currently in 17th in the 18-team Bundesliga, with 22 points from their 29 matches so far seeing them sit seven points from safety with just five matches remaining this season.
Bates joined Rangers from Raith Rovers in January 2017 and went on to make 25 first-team appearances for the Light Blues, including 17 this season.
The young enforcer had become a regular at the back for Graeme Murty before a serious ankle ligament injury put him out of action for six weeks.
Fans have taken to Twitter to rage at the news, with many slamming the club for their failure to keep Bates this summer.
This is Futbol have rounded up some of the best tweets:
https://twitter.com/gersmandan/status/984458290414477312
https://twitter.com/ian_barrie/status/984459817304674305
https://twitter.com/Michael98831350/status/984459790100426752
I for one will really miss saying ‘Batesy’ under my breath whenever David Bates did anything on a football pitch.
— Euan (@euangtaylor) April 12, 2018
Let’s face it Bates looked somewhat half decent compared to the absolute dross we have had at centre back over the last 6/7 years.
We need better than half decent to compete again.
— RoadRunner (@roadrunner_83) April 12, 2018
https://twitter.com/euanm14/status/984459606587052032
Tell you what we better have a serious CB lined up or we are struggling big time. Alves surely away and big Bates was looking promising….
— The Braco Batistuta (@dazbeattie9) April 12, 2018
Disappointed to see that David Bates will be leaving #Rangers – exactly the type of good young player we should be hanging on too.
— Ross Brownlee (@rossbrownlee1) April 12, 2018