John Souttar was born on 25 September 1996 in Aberdeen, Scotland. He is the older brother of Rangers and Scotland defender Harry Souttar — though Harry has committed to Australia. John came through the Hearts academy and spent the formative years of his career at Tynecastle, developing into a commanding centre-back in the Scottish Premiership who stood out for his reading of the game and aerial quality.
His career at Hearts was disrupted by a series of serious injury setbacks including Achilles tendon ruptures that required extended rehabilitation periods and interrupted what would otherwise have been a more straightforward rise. Despite these setbacks he remained committed to the club and the national side.
In January 2022 he joined Rangers on a pre-contract agreement, making the move in the summer of 2022. At Ibrox he has contributed to Rangers' Scottish Premiership title challenges and European campaigns, offering experience and aerial quality in central defence.
For Scotland he debuted in 2018 and was considered a future cornerstone of the national defence before injuries slowed his progress. He has fought back to establish himself as a senior squad member under Steve Clarke, and is part of Scotland's defensive planning for the 2026 World Cup cycle.
Standing 1.88 m, Souttar is a physically dominant centre-back with strong aerial ability and a clear authority in defensive situations. His experience at Hearts through difficult circumstances and his subsequent contribution at Rangers show the resilience that defines his career.