The talented 20-year-old, who joined the club on loan during their League One title-winning season, has put pen to paper on a three-year deal after an undisclosed transfer fee was agreed between the clubs.
Ritchie-Hosler becomes James McPake’s first signing since the team were promoted back to the Championship, and his return is likely to thrill supporters who took him to their hearts.
He arrived at KDM Group East End Park in September, making his debut in a home match with Peterhead, but had to wait until the end of November, a 4-0 Scottish Cup win over Forfar Athletic, in which he scored his first goal for the club, to make his first start.
In the second part of the campaign, though, the former Manchester City academy player, who moved to Ibrox in the summer of 2020, became a key man for McPake.
Ritchie-Hosler went on to make 22 appearances for Dunfermline in all competitions, scoring three times, including the opener in the 5-0 win over Queen of the South on the day they clinched the title.
Following that match, he said “we’ll see” when asked whether he could return to the club, adding that “I love it here”.
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That has now come to fruition and, speaking to Press Sport after sealing his return, he said: “I’m buzzing. It wasn’t really a hard choice – I wanted to be back.
“I think, with the reception I’ve got off the fans, it’s good to be back.
“I didn’t want to go back to not playing and being in the ‘B’ team. That wasn’t what I wanted, obviously, at my age. I wanted to be playing first team football and challenging myself. I think that’s what I needed.
“I think I’ve improved a lot, especially under the gaffer and the staff, and Dave (Mackay, McPake’s assistant) of course. I think I’ve just kicked on a lot more.”
Ritchie-Hosler’s contract with Rangers was up this summer and, with his impressive performances in a Dunfermline jersey, attracted interest from elsewhere.
But he insists that coming back to East End was what he wanted, and admitted the bond he had forged with the supporters played a part.
In games with Falkirk, and against Queen of the South, he left the pitch to be substituted in front of the North West Stand, who have their own song for him.
Ritchie-Hosler, who is jetting off for a short break before attention turns towards pre-season, joked of his signing announcement: “I’ll be on the plane so I won’t actually see it! I won’t actually see all the messages and everything – once I get there, I’ll see it!
“I’ve been getting a lot of messages and comments, so I was kind of used to it. I got a lot of that, and they were a big factor obviously, of course.”
On whether there was interest from other clubs, he added: “Possibly, I think there was a few, but I just wanted to be back to be honest, and playing.
“I’m delighted to be back most of all, just with the boys and everything, so it should be great.”
You can read more from Ritchie-Hosler, and McPake, inside this week’s Press Sport, which is out on Thursday.
