Kyrgiakos has played 10 times for Greece

A fee, believed to be about �1.75m, had been agreed with Panathinaikos, but the deal had been delayed as he negotiated a three-and-a-half year deal.

English Premiership outfit Portsmouth and Serie A club Fiorentina had also been linked with the 25-year-old.

Kyrgiakos said: "The last few days of discussions have been tiring and I am flying to Athens to prepare myself properly to help us win the title."

The 6ft 3ins stopper had been targeted as a replacement for France international Jean-Alain Boumsong, who moved to Newcastle United.

I know he has the presence and the aggression to be a huge success Rangers manager Alex McLeish

Kyrgiakos is also capable of scoring goals and netted twice in league leaders Panathinaikos's 5-1 win against OFI Crete on Sunday.

But his return to his homeland will mean he will not make his debut in Sunday's Scottish Premier League meeting with Aberdeen.

He will instead make his debut in front of the Ibrox faithful when Livingston arrive on Scottish Premier League duty on 29 January.

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Rangers manager Alex McLeish told his club's website: "Discussions over the past few days have certainly proved to be fruitful and I am convinced Sotirios will be a valuable player for us.

"I know he has the presence and the aggression to be a huge success at Rangers Football Club."

Kyrgiakos has 10 caps but missed the Greeks' European Championship triumph due to an injury sustained against Rangers in last season's Champions League.