Bjørnebye, who made over 300 appearances for clubs including Liverpool, Blackburn and Rosenborg and represented Norway 75 times during his playing career, is joining the club on an initial six-month interim basis.
The 56-year-old will start his role at Ibrox this week, with the January transfer window fast approaching.
Kevin Thelwell was sacked as sporting director late last month (Image: Andrew Milligan/PA Wire)
Club sources suggest that this is not an interim sporting director role and decision-making structures within the football department will not be altered. It is believed that Bjørnebye has been identified as an individual who can support the crucial upcoming transfer window and help the transition, following the dismissal of sporting director Kevin Thelwell last month.
Dan Purdy remains as the club’s technical director, while Robbie Thelwell joined as head of recruitment earlier this year, alongside Nathan Fisher as head scout. Bjørnebye will work in an advisory role, supporting and adding experience to a range of football matters which, most pressingly, is the transfer window.
The Rangers Review understands that the club feel getting the right fit to replace Thelwell, who was sacked alongside CEO Patrick Stewart last month, is being prioritised by Andrew Cavenagh and Paraag Marathe.
Andrew Cavenagh and Paraag Marathe will have the final say on transfers (Image: Andrew Milligan)
Therefore, instead of rushing an appointment to oversee the January window, Bjørnebye joins the club on an interim basis.
Bjørnebye has previously worked as a Sporting Director for Rosenborg and most recently, Aarhus in Denmark. He will report directly to Andrew Cavenagh.
The Rangers Review understands that the recruitment team will provide a plan to be executed for the upcoming window, with head coach Danny Rohl actively involved in the process. However, final transfer decisions and sign-offs will rest with Cavenagh and Marathe.
Danny Rohl has managed six league wins from eight as Rangers boss (Image: Stuart Wallace/Shutterstock)
As the Rangers Review reported earlier this week, the club are actively looking to make an addition at No.6 next month, with Joe Rothwell attracting interest from the English Championship and Rangers open to sanctioning his exit six months after his arrival from Bournemouth.
Rohl inherits a squad built in the image of two men no longer at the club, in Russell Martin and Thelwell. Rangers sources insist that recruitment will continue to be a collaborative effort with Rohl heavily involved in the process.