“He is an exceptionally talented striker and vastly experienced footballer who has scored goals at every club he has played for.
“He will be a great addition to our dressing room and we look forward to integrating him into the squad whilst we work in Tenerife over the next week.”
Director of football Mark Allen added: “It’s really helpful to get work on this front done early in the transfer window because it means we should be able to hit the ground running after the winter break. I believe that is vitally important.”
The club also moved to thank Bournemouth for the way in which they conducted negotiations.
Steven Gerrard said he was delighted to confirm the capture of Defoe (Image: GETTY)
A statement read: “Rangers wish to place on record our thanks to AFC Bournemouth for their help and cooperation in securing this transfer and making it possible.”
Defoe joined Bournemouth at the start of last season and was a regular in Eddie Howe’s side before falling out of favour in the current campaign.
But he arrives in Scotland with an exceptional goalscoring pedigree.
During his 22-year career, Defoe has found the net 273 times in 682 appearances in all competitions.
Gerrard and Defoe are former England team-mates (Image: GETTY)
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With 162 of those goals coning in the Premier League, he is the competition’s seventh highest all-time scorer.
He played in the 2010 World Cup alongside Gerrard and netted the all-important goal against Slovenia that secures their pace in the knockout stage.
Defoe becomes Rangers’ third signing of the January transfer window after Jordan Jones and Glen Kamara.