Godwin ObajeLuuk de Jong Open to Rangers Move as Russell Martin Eyes Experienced Reinforcements
Rangers have been handed a potential transfer boost with reports in the Netherlands claiming veteran striker Luuk de Jong is open to a move to Ibrox this summer.
The 34-year-old, whose contract with PSV Eindhoven is set to expire at the end of June, is reportedly weighing up his next move after a distinguished career across Europe. According to The Daily Record, the Dutch international would consider a switch to Glasgow as he prepares for the twilight of his playing days.
Rangers are braced for a summer of change in attack, with current forwards Cyriel Dessers and Hamza Igamane both linked with exits. Dessers is in talks over a move to AEK Athens and is believed to have agreed a £30,000-per-week contract, though a fee is yet to be finalised after Rangers rejected a £4.5 million offer. Meanwhile, Igamane has agreed personal terms with Ligue 1 outfit Lille, although negotiations over a transfer fee continue.
With both players potentially departing before the start of the 2025/26 season, manager Russell Martin is expected to dip into the market for experienced firepower. Rangers are due to face Panathinaikos in a vital Champions League qualifier next month, and bolstering the forward line is a clear priority.
De Jong, who captained PSV throughout the 2024/25 campaign — including their Champions League fixtures — would bring considerable pedigree to Martin’s evolving side. The 6ft 2in frontman has scored goals in the Netherlands, Spain and Germany, amassing over 290 career strikes across domestic and international football.
His most prolific spell has come in Eindhoven, where he has netted 186 goals in 338 appearances across two stints. He also hit 59 goals in 121 matches for FC Twente, with further spells at Sevilla, Barcelona, and Borussia Mönchengladbach adding to a rich CV that includes La Liga and Bundesliga experience.
During his time at Barcelona, former Blaugrana boss Ronald Koeman famously declared De Jong “more dangerous than Neymar” in the air — a nod to the Dutchman’s aerial prowess. Indeed, De Jong has scored an astonishing 113 headed goals in his career, making him one of Europe’s most dominant strikers in that regard.
While the striker’s next step remains undecided, the prospect of leading the line at Ibrox could appeal to a player keen to maintain his Champions League involvement. With Ricardo Pepi expected to be PSV’s first-choice forward next season, De Jong’s time in Eindhoven appears to be coming to a natural conclusion.
For Rangers, the opportunity to sign a player of De Jong’s experience and goal-scoring calibre on a free transfer represents a potentially shrewd piece of business. His leadership, physicality, and proven track record would offer Martin a different dimension up front as the club rebuilds for a season of domestic ambition and European opportunity.
Should a deal materialise, De Jong would join recent arrivals such as Max Aarons and Lyall Cameron, as the new-look Ibrox era under Russell Martin begins to take shape.
Godwin Obaje
