LEE HODSON admits his move to Rangers has capped a dream summer after being part of Northern Ireland’s European Championship squad.

The defender became Mark Warburton’s eighth signing of the close season on Wednesday when he put pen-to-paper on a three-year deal at Ibrox.

Hodson will not join up with the Gers at their Charleston base as he takes a break following his time in France in recent weeks.

But the 24-year-old can’t wait to get started in Light Blue as he looks forward to a crack at the Premiership next term.

Hodson said: “It’s amazing, an opportunity to come to such a massive club is a dream come true.

“From the day I heard that there was an opportunity to come here my mind was made up and I couldn’t be more excited at the moment. I can’t wait to get started and meet all the lads.

“When I found out, I can’t really explain, it was one of those surreal moments where you are like ‘Wow, Rangers are possibly interested in me’.

“When I got the phone call to say to come up and get things sorted it was a proud moment for me and my family.

“I know a few of the lads here already and they’ve told me what a big club it is, it has a great fanbase and stuff like that.

“So that sold it to me and I was just excited to get up here and get started.

“When I went through the gates [at Auchenhowie] I knew it was starting to become real and that the dream was starting to get closer and closer.

“Now I’m here the facilities are fantastic, I’ve never been to a training ground like it.”

After spending the second half of last season on loan at Kilmarnock, Hodson has lived the dream in recent weeks as Michael O’Neill’s side shone on the continent.

He had to watch on from the sidelines as Northern Ireland were beaten by Wales and missed out on a quarter-final berth.

But the former Watford and Brentford full-back was pleased to be part of the tournament and the homecoming celebrations in Belfast this week.

“It was a great experience being at the Euros and this is just the icing on the case now to come back and sign for Rangers,” Hodson told rangers.co.uk.

“As a kid you always wish to go to a major tournament or be part of it.

“Obviously I would like to have got some minutes and a bit of game time out there, but as I’ve said the experience of being out there, experiencing the whole tournament, it was a massive learning curve for me.

“I’m always learning, I’m still quite young and it was one of those moments where you pinch yourself and think ‘I’m at a major tournament’.”