Rangers Complete Double Swoop: Kevin Kelsy Arrives for £9m as Badredine Bouanani Joins on Loan
GLASGOW — Rangers have completed a major double signing on transfer deadline day, bringing Venezuelan striker Kevin Kelsy to Ibrox from Portland Timbers in a deal reported at around £9 million, while also securing the season-long loan signing of Stuttgart winger Badredine Bouanani. The moves underline manager Derek McInnes’ determination to reshape his squad and add greater attacking quality.
Kelsy, 22, has signed an initial four-year contract with Rangers, with the club holding an option to extend the agreement for another season. The Venezuelan international arrives after an impressive spell in Major League Soccer, where he scored 19 goals and registered five assists in 63 appearances for Portland Timbers.
His arrival represents a significant investment from Rangers and is expected to add another dimension to the club’s attacking options. The striker moved to Portland from Shakhtar Donetsk in January and has developed a reputation as a powerful forward capable of making an impact in the final third.
Kelsy has already made his ambitions clear. Speaking after completing the transfer, he expressed his excitement at joining a club with such a strong European history and said he wants to help create memorable moments for the Rangers supporters.
For McInnes, the signing is about more than simply adding another striker. Rangers have been looking for greater competition and depth in attack, particularly after injury problems affected their forward options. The manager believes Kelsy has the hunger and quality necessary to make an immediate impression.
Alongside Kelsy, Rangers also completed the signing of Badredine Bouanani from Stuttgart on loan until the end of the season. The 21-year-old Algerian international gives McInnes another attacking option on the wing and adds pace and creativity to the squad. The agreement reportedly includes an option for Rangers to make the transfer permanent.
Bouanani joined Stuttgart from Nice in 2025 and has already represented Algeria at international level. Although his time in Germany has not yet produced the consistency expected of a young attacking player, Rangers will hope regular football at Ibrox can unlock his potential.
The two arrivals also complete an extraordinary summer of recruitment for Rangers. The club made 14 summer signings, highlighting the scale of McInnes’ rebuilding project. The challenge now is turning a dramatically refreshed squad into a cohesive team. Rangers have experienced setbacks earlier in the campaign, but recent victories have provided encouragement and increased optimism around Ibrox.
With Kelsy providing a new attacking threat and Bouanani offering additional creativity from the wing, Rangers supporters now have two more reasons to believe their team can compete strongly on multiple fronts. The pressure will be considerable, but the message from Ibrox is clear: Rangers are rebuilding, investing and aiming for a much stronger second half of the season.
