Raskin's stalled transfer leaves Rangers to rely on his form

On 23 September 2026, 25‑year‑old Belgian midfielder Nicolas Raskin admitted he was gutted not to have secured a move away from Rangers during the summer transfer window, leaving the Ibrox side to cope without the player he had mentally prepared to quit after three‑and‑a‑half years in Glasgow.

Key factor in Rangers' recent surge

Raskin has been a key factor in the Ibrox outfit’s upturn in form, featuring in emphatic back‑to‑back victories over Old Firm rivals Celtic in the Premier Sports Cup quarter‑final. The wins have also revitalised Rangers in the league, turning their season on its head and giving the squad a much‑needed lift.

The midfielder seemed destined for a move after starring for Belgium at the World Cup, yet Derek McInnes left him out of the squad on more than one occasion in August, fuelling speculation about his future and prompting interest from abroad.

Late interest materialised from Turkish side Besiktas, but Raskin described the summer as ‘complicated’, saying he had prepared himself mentally to leave Glasgow after three‑and‑a‑half years and now had to come to terms with staying put.

Raskin refocuses on Rangers

“It is a bit of a disappointment, because I was mentally ready to leave,” he told Belgian journalists. “But that is football and it is not a big deal. There are many parameters and off‑field matters you have to take into account during a transfer.” He added, “Rangers is a good club, I am playing my matches, we have a great squad this year and are doing great things. If you ask me if I wanted to take a step forward and keep moving forward, I say yes.”

Uncertainty hit a peak on the morning of September 2 when he received a phone call about an offer believed to be from Besiktas, only to discover he had a match that evening. On the bus to the stadium he still didn’t know if he would stay at Rangers; an hour later he was on the pitch against Falkirk, with little time to think.

Raskin now says his focus is back on himself and on performing as well as possible, believing that strong displays will make the next transfer window go better. “I am not someone who gives up easily anyway. Life goes on. There are worse things,” he affirmed.

Meanwhile, 22‑year‑old French defender Clinton Nsiala completed a permanent transfer to UAE Pro League side Sharjah FC for an estimated £300,000. The defender made 17 appearances for Rangers after joining from AC Milan in the summer of 2024.