Rangers have sealed a season-long loan move for Brighton & Hove Albion’s Senegalese international Abdallah Sima.
The 22-year-old moved to the English Premier League side two years ago but has struggled to recapture the form that tempted the Seagulls to splash a fee in the region of £7 million for the attacker. During his two seasons at the south coast club, Sima has had loan spells at Stoke City in the English Championship and with Angers in Ligue 1 in France last season.
Sima shot to prominence with Slavia Prague when he helped the Czech side reach the Europa League quarter finals - beating Rangers en route to the last eight - where they lost to Arsenal. Michael Beale would have been familiar with him from those two games against Slavia and has now swooped to take him to Ibrox Stadium on loan from Roberto de Zerbi’s side.
Beale has made an exception for Sima after previously saying he wouldn’t go down the loan route, albeit he was speaking during the January transfer window, as he felt it was a costly short term route to go down. The Englishman has already signed Jack Butland, Sam Lammers, Dujon Sterling and Kieran Dowell on permanent deals.
Beale said: "We are delighted to have Abdallah join us for the forthcoming season. He is a player I’m excited to work with, he has excellent variety in his game and can fulfil a number of attacking positions in our team."
Brighton technical director and Ibrox icon David Weir added: “Abdallah had a really strong finish to last season in France, after initially being disrupted by injury — but he once again showed his ability when he did play, and the potential he offers.
“We are hoping he can get a good run of games with Rangers this coming season, both domestically and in European competition, and we will keep a close eye on his progress.”
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