Glasgow Rangers’ success in the transfer market has been limited in recent years, with few players arriving at Ibrox able to make a real long-term impression at the club.
This is due to the fact that Gers managers such as Michael Beale and Giovanni van Bronckhorst now have greater control over their budgets. Van Bronckhorst may have sold Calvin Bassey and Nathan Patterson for club-record sums just a few months apart, but these are the only two he has had success with in recent years.
Biggest contract in Rangers history
The Gers now have a new owner in the 49ers Enterprise.
With this in mind, let’s take a look at the record transfer turnovers in Rangers history.
Rangers: most expensive transfer sale | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
rank | player | Sales destination | year | commission |
1 | calvin bassey | ajax | 2022 | £19.6m |
2 | Nathan Patterson | everton | 2022 | £11.5m |
3 | Kasumi’s name | reel | 2025 | £10.4m |
4 | Alan Hutton | tottenham | 2008 | 9 million pounds |
5 | Giovanni van Bronckhorst | arsenal | 2001 | £8.5m |
6 | Jean-Alain Boumson | newcastle | 2005 | £8 million |
7 | Carlos Cuellar | Aston Villa | 2008 | £7.8m |
8 | barry ferguson | blackburn | 2003 | £7.5m |
9 | Torre Andre Flow | sunderland | 2002 | £6.75 million |
10 | Jobs Alive | southampton | 2022 | £6 million |
=11 | Nikika Jelavic | everton | 2012 | £5.5 million |
=11 | trevor steven | marseille | 1991 | £5.5 million |
13 | gift | palm tree | 2025 | £5.3 million |
14 | Glen Kamara | leeds | 2023 | 5 million pounds |
15 | Claudio Reyna | sunderland | 2001 | £4.75 million |
=16 | duncan ferguson | everton | 1994 | 4 million pounds |
=16 | Jarg Alberts | hamburg | 2000 | 4 million pounds |
=16 | Fashion Sakala | Al Faiha | 2023 | 4 million pounds |
=16 | Gennaro Gattuso | salernitana | 1998 | 4 million pounds |
20 | paul gascoigne | middlesbrough | 1998 | £3.45 million |
10
Jobs Alive
Rangers to Southampton (£6m)
Steven Gerrard signed Joe Aribo for just £300,000 due to cross-border transfer rules, which could be a bargain.
He made 49 appearances in his first season, contributing 17 goals in the process and winning the club’s first trophy in the 2020/21 season.
The Light Blues went unbeaten that season, with Aribo shining in Gerrard’s system, winning their 55th league title and their first in 10 years. He scored 6 goals and provided 4 assists in 26 league games, shining alongside Alfredo Morelos, Ryan Kent and Giannis Hagi, and was an extremely important result for the club.
In his final season, Aribo came close to achieving immortality. The Nigerian sparked frenzied scenes in Sevilla by scoring the opening goal in the Europa League final, but Gers ultimately lost the match on penalties.
Shortly after, he moved to Southampton for a fee of £6 million, which could reach £10 million.
9
Torre Andre Flow
Rangers to Sunderland (£6.75m)
As of 2024, Torre Andre Flo is the club’s richest ever signing, having signed for £12 million in November 2000. He scored on his debut against Celtic and went on to score 12 more goals by the end of the season.
In the 2001-02 season, Flo was at his best, scoring 25 goals in all competitions, making his high salary worth it.
His future looked bright, but when Sunderland made a bid of £6.75 million in August 2002, Alex McLeish accepted the offer and headed to the Premier League.
8
barry ferguson
Rangers to Blackburn (£7.5m)
Barry Ferguson can lay claim to being one of the most successful captains in the club’s history, helping them to the treble in the 2002/03 season, winning several other accolades, and even captaining them to the 2008 UEFA Cup Final.
Not only was Ferguson one of Rangers’ best players, he was also arguably one of Britain’s best midfielders in his prime. His form during the treble-winning season saw Blackburn Rovers make a bid of £7.5 million, which the club duly accepted amid Ibrox’s financial problems.
After 18 months, Ferguson returned to Rangers, where he spent another four-and-a-half years, winning six more major honours, before leaving for good in 2009.
7
Carlos Cuellar
Rangers to Aston Villa (£7.8m)
Walter Smith had a lot to do during the first summer transfer window of his second season at Ibrox. In fact, in the summer of 2007, we signed a total of 13 contracts.
Carlos Cuellar was one of them, impressing Smith and his backroom team in the UEFA Cup a few months ago.
The Spaniard was a steady figure at Ibrox, making 61 appearances in a season in which Rangers won both domestic cups and reached the UEFA Cup final. His form clearly impressed the southern club and there was no doubt that his future was away from Glasgow.
Before the 2008/09 season, Cuellar joined Aston Villa for a fee of around £7.8 million, making Smith a handsome profit in the process.
6
Jean-Alain Boumson
Rangers to Newcastle (£8m)
Midway through the 2003/04 season, Alex McLeish announced that Rangers had signed high-profile defender Jean-Alain Boumson on a pre-contract deal, beating out the likes of Arsenal and Inter Milan.
It was a statement of intent and the Frenchman took time to settle in quickly, making 26 appearances for Gers in the first half of the season.
However, his form was already attracting attention. Graeme Souness wanted him at Newcastle and an offer of £8 million was too good to refuse, especially considering it didn’t cost him a penny.
His form plummeted in England, failing to live up to the hype generated upon his arrival.
5
Giovanni van Bronckhorst
Rangers to Arsenal (£8.5m)
Dick Advocaat’s Dutch revolution at Ibrox began in 1998, when he signed a number of players from his home country to strengthen the squad, including young Giovanni van Bronckhorst.
Over the next three seasons, the Dutchman won five domestic trophies, scoring three goals in the Champions League group stage of the 2000/01 season, and increasing his reputation in the process.
In the summer of 2001, manager Arsene Wenger made the move and the Light Blues signed the defender for a then-club record fee of around £8.5 million.
4
Alan Hutton
Rangers vs Tottenham (£9m)
Alan Hutton emerged from the academy to become a first-team regular under manager Alex McLeish, but it was Walter Smith who took him to the next level.
Hatton, an attack-minded right-back, was given free rein on the right side of defense under the veteran manager. He recorded five assists in the first half of the 2007/08 season as Rangers aimed for another national title.
However, by January, English Premier League clubs were showing strong interest, and it was Spurs who snapped up Hatton for a club-record £9 million transfer.
3
Kasumi’s name
Rangers to Lille (£10.4m)
Hamza Igamane was a key player who left Rangers in 2025, joining French side Lille just days after refusing to come on as a substitute in the second half against St Mirren.
The forward, who joined the Gers for around £1.7m in 2024, had become a fan favorite even before his departure with his late winning goal at Celtic Park, perhaps his most iconic goal in a Rangers shirt. Still, Ibrox officials made a huge profit on the Moroccan forward.
2
Nathan Patterson
Rangers to Everton (£11.5m)
To Hutton, Nathan Patterson appeared to be the heir apparent. Both Scottish right-backs liked to push forward at every opportunity, but the difference was that Hatton was given many chances while Patterson had to wait on the side until James Tavanier was injured or rested to get his chance.
The youngster made just 27 appearances for the club after making his debut in January 2020. When Everton became interested in a bid of £11.5m (which could be higher with add-ons), it was an offer the Garr family couldn’t refuse.
So far, his time down south hasn’t gone as planned, with injuries hampering his progress. If he can get healthy and return to the starting lineup, Patterson will have a chance to fulfill his potential.
1
calvin bassey
Rangers to Ajax (£19.6m)
Like Aribo, Calvin Bassey also signed with the Peanuts due to cross-border transfer rules. Originally joining as a talented prospect, the Nigerian made just 15 appearances in all competitions in his first season.
The 2021/22 campaign was very different. Due to the injury crisis in the defence, Bassey was partnered with Conor Goldson in the heart of defence, making a total of 50 appearances for the club, helping them win the Scottish Cup and reach the Europa League final.
Due to his performances, it didn’t take long for clubs to show interest, with Ajax seen as the most likely to sign him.
In fact, a deposit of £19.6 million was agreed between the two clubs, making the move the Light Blues’ most expensive sale ever, as Van Bronckhorst offered a fantastic return for the defender.
Bassey has since spent a year in the Netherlands before moving to Fulham and is currently enjoying a good run in the Premier League.
