Deadline-Day Double Transfer
Rangers Sign Kevin Kelsy And Badredine Bouanani In Double Deadline-Day Transfer
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Key Points
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Badredine Bouanani, 21, has joined Rangers on a year-long loan from Stuttgart, primarily operating on the right wing; he previously moved to Germany from Nice in 2025 and even faced Rangers while at Nice.
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Kelsy’s transfer fee has been reported as £9.2m, making him Rangers’ second-highest signing in club history; some outlets also cited a £9.5m initial fee, underscoring the deal’s scale.
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At Portland Timbers, Kelsy was leading attacker this season with 9 goals and 4 assists in 20 matches, and he finishes his Portland stint with 19 goals in 63 MLS appearances.
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Portland GM Ned Grabavoy framed Kelsy’s departure as part of the Timbers’ plan to be aggressive over the next six to 12 months and to acquire new young emerging talent.
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Kelsy has European pedigree, including a Europa League-winning spot-kick for Shakhtar Donetsk against Rennes and a Champions League goal against Porto as a teenager.
Rangers completed a double deadline-day signing on transfer day, bringing in Venezuelan striker Kevin Kelsy from Portland Timbers for around £9.2m and securing a season-long loan for Algerian winger Badredine Bouanani from Stuttgart. The 22-year-old Kelsy arrives on a four-year deal with a fifth-year option after a standout MLS campaign where he scored 9 goals and added 4 assists in 20 matches for Portland mlssoccer.
The moves shore up Rangers' attack following Youssef Chermiti's ACL injury and mark part of manager Derek McInnes's strategy to strengthen the squad. Kelsy becomes Rangers' second-highest signing in club history, according to Daily Mail, while the 21-year-old Bouanani adds width on the right wing after joining Stuttgart from Nice in 2025 dailymail.
Kelsy's Stellar Portland Season Earns Him Scottish Move
Kelsy finished his Portland stint with 19 goals across 63 MLS appearances, emerging as one of the Timbers' elite attackers. Portland Timbers general manager Ned Grabavoy framed the departure as part of the club's strategy to remain aggressive in the transfer market over the next six to 12 months while acquiring emerging young talent mlssoccer.
Manager Derek McInnes praised Kelsy's hunger and quality, emphasizing the 22-year-old's potential to add a new dimension to Rangers' forward line. The Venezuelan international brings proven MLS credentials and experience competing at higher levels, including a Champions League goal against Porto as a teenager dailymail.
Bouanani Bolsters Rangers' Right-Wing Options on Loan
Badredine Bouanani, 21, joins Rangers on a 12-month loan deal from Stuttgart, where he moved in 2025 after stints at Nice. The Algerian winger primarily operates on the right flank, providing attacking depth as Rangers look to compete across multiple competitions uk.headtopics.
Bouanani has faced Rangers previously while playing for Nice, giving him familiarity with Scottish Premiership football. The loan arrangement allows him to gain regular first-team minutes while Rangers add competition and options in wide areas uk.headtopics.
Kelsy's European Pedigree Signals Long-Term Rangers Ambition
Beyond his MLS success, Kelsy possesses credible European experience that Rangers hope will accelerate his development. He scored a goal in the Champions League against Porto as a teenager and even earned a spot-kick conversion in a Europa League final for Shakhtar Donetsk against Rennes dailymail.
Rangers' willingness to spend heavily—making Kelsy the club's second-largest signing ever—underscores their ambition to win titles this season. The four-year contract with a fifth-year option suggests confidence in Kelsy's ability to develop into a cornerstone of McInnes's attack moving forward dailymail.
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