Rangers have completed a double transfer deadline day swoop with the permanent acquisition of Venezuelan international forward Kevin Kelsy and the season-long loan arrival of Algerian winger Badredine Bouanani.
Kelsy arrives at Ibrox Stadium in Glasgow from Major League Soccer club Portland Timbers for a fee of £9.2 million. The 22-year-old striker has signed a four-year contract with the Scottish Premiership side, with the option to extend the agreement by a fifth year.
Rangers prioritized the recruitment of a new center-forward after striker Youssef Chermiti sustained a serious knee injury during a league match against Hibernian last month.
The £9.2 million outlay represents the second highest transfer fee in Rangers' history. It is surpassed only by the £12 million the Scottish club paid to sign Norwegian striker Tore Andre Flo from English side Chelsea in 2000, a club record that has stood for more than two decades.
Kelsy's arrival provides manager Derek McInnes with another primary attacking option up front. He will compete for starting positions alongside fellow forwards Lawrence Shankland, Ryan Naderi and Bojan Miovski in the Rangers attack.
Kevin Kelsy career background
Kelsy developed through the youth ranks of Mineros de Guayana in his native Venezuela before making a brief move to Uruguayan club Boston River. In January 2023, he earned a transfer to Ukrainian giants Shakhtar Donetsk, gaining valuable European competition experience.
The striker subsequently moved to North America, spending a loan period with Ohio-based FC Cincinnati in Major League Soccer before completing a transfer to Oregon side Portland Timbers in January 2025.
"I've heard a lot about the club," Kelsy said after completing his move to Ibrox. "Even when I was younger, I saw the team in Europe. I know what the club means to the fans."
"I would love to bring some joy to the fans and the club, and score goals to bring amazing moments to the team," Kelsy added. "I know we have to win all the games and play well, and I'll be ready for this with my teammates. I'm ready for this new chapter in my life."
Rangers manager Derek McInnes expressed his satisfaction at securing the Venezuelan international. "We're really pleased to welcome Kevin to the club," McInnes said. "He's an exciting player with a lot of attributes, and what really stood out in our conversations is how hungry he is to make an impact."
"He'll bring real quality to an area of the pitch we have been keen to strengthen, and his arrival gives us another exciting option going forward," McInnes added. "Kevin has a great attitude and a real desire to improve, and we're looking forward to seeing what he can bring at Rangers."
Loan arrival of Badredine Bouanani
Alongside Kelsy, Rangers completed the signing of 21-year-old winger Badredine Bouanani on a year-long loan from German Bundesliga outfit VfB Stuttgart, where he has predominantly operated on the right wing.
The Algerian international moved to Germany from French Ligue 1 club Nice in 2025. Bouanani is already familiar with Ibrox, having previously played and scored against Rangers in a European fixture during his time with the French club.
Rangers transfer window activity
The dual arrivals of Kelsy and Bouanani bring Rangers' total count of new additions during this transfer window to 14 players, acquired through a combination of permanent transfers and loan deals.
The deadline day business also involved squad departures and retained talent. Midfielder Thelo Aasgaard has left Ibrox on loan to join Belgian Pro League side Anderlecht for the remainder of the season. Meanwhile, Belgian midfielder Nico Raskin will remain with Rangers after the club turned down a second transfer bid from Turkish Super Lig side Besiktas.
