Rangers have signed Belgian midfielder Nicolas Raskin from Standard Liege on an 'long term' contract as their determination to land the player paid off.
The Ibrox side got their man at the third time of asking with a bid of around £1.75 million, including add-ons, for the Under-21 international over the weekend. Record Sport revealed he had touched down at Edinburgh airport on Monday and he was whisked across the M8 to the club's training ground.
Raskin returned to Auchenhowie on Tuesday afternoon, accompanied by sporting director Ross Wilson and the deal was announced after completing his medical and putting pen to paper. After agreeing the move, Raskin said: "I feel very excited to be here and I also feel very proud to join a very big club. I’m looking forward to playing at Ibrox. It was very exciting when I was told of Rangers’ interest because it’s a big club. I'm looking forward to making my debut and I hope it can be as soon as possible.”
Gers boss Michael Beale added: "As a football club, Nicolas is a player that we have tracked for a long time and we are very pleased to welcome him and his family to Rangers. He is a young player that has already amassed good experience both in domestic and European competition. I am looking forward to working with him closely and integrating him into our team.”
Raskin has been a long-term target of Rangers, with the player lined up as a potential replacement if Glen Kamara had left at the start of the season, and Beale has been vocal in his admiration for the 21-year-old. The move brings a difficult spell in Liege to a close having been dropped out of the first-team squad by boss Ronny Deila after failing to extend his contract beyond the end of the current campaign.
The Belgian under-21 international came through the academy at the club and established himself as a key first-team man last term in the Belgian Pro League as he helped the club steer clear of the relegation zone. He continued that form into the next season, making 17 appearances before the league campaign was put on hold for the World Cup campaign.
While the tournament was taking place in Qatar, Raskin help crunch talks over a new deal. After knocking back the contract on the table he was dropped to the reserves, and has not played a first-team game since November.
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