Godwin Obaje49ers Risk Early Transfer Misstep as Rangers Reach Cyriel Dessers Agreement
The 49ers Enterprises-led Rangers regime is poised to sanction what could be viewed as its first significant transfer misstep, with Cyriel Dessers seemingly on the brink of an Ibrox exit.
Dessers, 30, has divided opinion since his arrival last summer. While he ended the 2024/25 campaign as Rangers’ top scorer with a respectable goal tally, his performances lacked the consistent quality expected of a leading striker at Ibrox. A mixture of wayward finishing, ineffective hold-up play, and the sense that the attack never fully flowed through him has left many within the Rangers support unconvinced.
Now, according to sources close to the deal, an agreement is believed to have been reached that will see Dessers depart the club this summer. Though the identity of the buying club remains under wraps, there is growing frustration among a section of the support, who believe the club is moving on a player without adequately assessing how he might function in a revamped system under new leadership.
Indeed, while Dessers’ critics are vocal, others argue that the striker has been made a scapegoat for wider structural issues within the side last term. He was frequently left isolated in games where service into the box was minimal, and tactical incoherence meant he often had to drop too deep to influence proceedings. In that light, some feel he deserved another season to prove himself, particularly with a strengthened midfield now in place.
Critics of the decision have described it as premature and potentially damaging. “This has the hallmarks of a panic move rather than a strategic one,” a former Rangers scout told Football Insider. “Dessers isn’t the complete forward by any means, but if you’re trying to build a team capable of taking the fight to Celtic, ripping up your goalscorer without a proven alternative in place is risky.”
That sentiment was echoed by one analyst close to the Ibrox dressing room, who said: “Look, Cyriel isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. But in a settled side, you can get 20+ goals a season from him. If Rangers are moving him on without someone better lined up, this could easily be the first howler of the new era.”
The 49ers, now in full control of Rangers following their majority investment, have pledged a data-driven, strategic approach to recruitment. Yet this deal raises early questions about whether their model aligns with the unique pressures of Scottish football, where a striker’s margin for error is razor-thin and patience even thinner.
With pre-season just weeks away and the pressure already building ahead of the Champions League qualifiers, Rangers’ recruitment will now be scrutinised more than ever. Letting Dessers go may be a gamble — but if the club fails to replace him with someone who can deliver both goals and presence, it could prove to be the first major blot on the 49ers’ copybook.
Godwin Obaje
