George Stanger

George Stanger is 25, from New Zealand, and plays as a central defender for Kilmarnock. In the 2025-26 Premiership, he made 20 appearances, all starts, and scored two goals. That points to a regular starting role rather than squad cover, while six yellow cards and one red underline a combative edge in his defending.

Stanger’s career has moved through Hamilton Academical, University of Stirling, Dumbarton, Alloa Athletic, Ayr United and Kilmarnock. The pattern was one of gradual progression through Scottish football, with the 2025 move to Kilmarnock taking him into a Premiership setting after spells at Alloa and Ayr.

Stanger’s transfer history has been low-cost and incremental. Hamilton Academical to University of Stirling, University of Stirling to Alloa Athletic, Alloa Athletic to Ayr United and Ayr United to Kilmarnock were all free transfers, with a loan to Dumbarton in 2022 the only temporary move listed. The free transfer to Kilmarnock in July 2025 was the clear step up.