Rangers have signed India captain and top goalscorer Bala Devi from Manipur Police Sports Club.

Devi becomes India's first professional player after joining the Scottish Women's Premier League 1 side. She has put pen to paper on an 18-month deal. 

The 29-year-old, who plays as a striker, has represented her country at under-16, under-19, and senior-level - making 58 appearances for the Blue Tigresses, scoring 52 goals. She is a three-time South Asian Football Federation winner in 2010, 2014, and 2016, as well as a two-time South Asian gold medalist, which she won in 2010 and 2016.

The forward was awarded the All India Football Federation's player of the year in both 2014 and 2015. Her club career has almost been good, with the 29-year-old scoring over 100 domestic goals.

"To play in Europe with one of the world's biggest clubs is something I could never have dreamed of," she said.

"I hope my move to Rangers serves as an example to all the women footballers back home in India who dream of taking up the sport professionally."

Rangers manager Amy McDonald has called Bala's move "inspirational for players everywhere", and the player's arrival is an "exciting signing on so many levels". The Glasgow-outfit's head of academy Craig Mulholland believes the move is "a huge step for the women's game".

Last September, Rangers formed a partnership with Indian Super League club Bengaluru FC - this affiliation helped to finalist Devi's move to Scotland. With Bala now India's first professional footballer, could we see more of her fellow countrywomen follow in her footsteps?