Rangers Sign Winger Minsu Kim from Girona for £8.5m
Rangers have landed winger Minsu Kim from Girona in an £8.5m deal, adding another bold stroke to an already frantic summer at Ibrox.
The 20-year-old South Korea international has signed an initial four-year contract, with an option for a further year, becoming the club’s 12th arrival of the window. And they are not finished yet. A £9.2m agreement is in place with Portland Timbers for striker Kevin Kelsy, with that move expected to be completed before the September 3 transfer deadline.
Kim arrives with winner’s mindset
Kim will not feature in Thursday night’s Conference League play-off second leg against Jablonec, having been left out of the European squad. His first taste of Scottish football is likely to come at Pittodrie on Sunday against Aberdeen, live on Sky Sports.
The winger’s route to Glasgow has been sharp and steep. He joined Girona in 2022, impressed with the B team, then broke into La Liga in October 2024. A month later he was tasting Champions League football. Last season he stepped down a division but not in impact, scoring six goals and supplying four assists on loan at La Liga 2 side Andorra.
Now he pitches up at Ibrox talking like a player who expects to shape games, not just survive them.
"I'm so happy to sign for Rangers. I know it's a big club with great, great fans," Kim said. "I want to help the team to be better every day, to be a good person, and to do everything I can to help the team win everything that comes our way.
"I have a lot of excitement and I believe I have the mentality of a winner. I want to face whatever comes next head-on and I'm going to give the club what it deserves."
Manager Derek McInnes sees him as a key piece in a rebuilt front line.
"We are delighted to welcome Minsu to Rangers. Strengthening our options in the forward areas has been a real target and focus for us throughout this window, and we believe he will add another exciting dimension to the squad," McInnes said.
"Minsu is a talented young player with excellent technical ability, energy and a real desire to develop, and we are looking forward to working with him."
Raskin left at home as transfer noise grows
While one door opens, another may be about to close.
Nicolas Raskin has not travelled to the Czech Republic for the decisive second leg against Jablonec, with McInnes confirming the midfielder’s absence is down to escalating transfer interest rather than injury.
Clubs across Europe and England are circling. Atalanta and Real Betis have already been credited with interest earlier in the window, and the 25-year-old Belgium international is now attracting attention from sides in Spain, Italy, France and England. He still has two years left on his Rangers contract, which strengthens the club’s hand as talks develop.
"Nico hasn't travelled. Nothing to do with injury or anything like that, just the potential of a transfer, potentially," McInnes said. "I just think we're so late in the window, maybe it's something the club's looking at. He's trained this morning but has been left back in Glasgow.
"When I came into the job, it was quite clear that there was going to be an opportunity for Nico. There's been plenty of interest in him. We believe that interest has stepped up over the last couple of days, so something may or may not happen.
"If Nico stays beyond the window, then it would be great to work with him. But if he doesn't, we wish him well."
Rangers hold a 1-0 advantage over Jablonec as they chase a place in the Conference League proper. Yet the European tie is being played out against the backdrop of a squad still in motion.
Asked if Raskin’s departure would force another midfield signing, despite three additions already in that area this summer, McInnes chose his words carefully.
"In certain areas of the pitch, we're a bit stronger than others. I think everything moves on," he said. "Nico served the club well. There's obviously an opportunity for him and the club to capitalise on that for a transfer fee. I don't really want to say too much about Nico at the minute until, if and when, something happens.
"It's still an if rather than a certainty. So maybe we can comment a bit more on that if something happens."
So Rangers fly out to defend a narrow European lead without one of their key midfielders, but with a new winger through the door and a centre-forward seemingly on the way. The squad is changing shape in real time. The question now is whether this accelerated rebuild can deliver results as quickly as the deals are getting done.
