Image source: bbc.com
Rangers have completed the signing of Tuur Rommens from Westerlo on a three-and-a-half-year contract, with the 22-year-old Belgian left-back arriving to boost the club’s options at the left side of defence where Jayden Meghoma is currently the only other natural player in that position.
Rangers Complete Three-and-a-Half-Year Signing of Belgian Left-Back Tuur Rommens
The Genk academy product attracted interest from Feyenoord during the summer transfer window, with former Hearts and Dundee United manager Robbie Neilson confirming that the Dutch club are historically very good at recruitment. Neilson, currently assistant head coach at Belgian side SK Lommel, told BBC Scotland that Feyenoord tend to take top talents from Belgium into the Dutch league.
Rommens joined Genk’s academy from Westerlo as a youngster but struggled to break into the first team before returning to the Antwerp outfit in 2023. He has since scored one goal and contributed nine assists in 79 appearances for the Belgian Pro League side, while earning nine caps for his country at under-21 level.
The defender is likely to be aware of what to expect at Rangers as his current head coach, Issame Charai, was Philippe Clement’s assistant at Ibrox. Neilson explained that Charai will have made Rommens understand the size of the club, the pressure and the expectations, noting that moving from Westerlo’s 8,000 or 9,000 capacity stadium to Ibrox could be difficult.
Neilson, who recently faced Rommens in a friendly with Lommel, praised the defender’s qualities, describing him as good one-on-one, a good passer, good in the air and effective at getting forward with good deliveries from crosses. The former Scotland manager believes Rommens does the basics very well and will be solid in the left-back area, suggesting he could make the position his own.
Rommens told Rangers’ website that it’s a dream to play for a club like this and expressed his excitement about playing for a club that regularly qualifies for European football. Head coach Danny Rohl described him as a young and hungry player who adds real quality and physicality to the group, though Rommens arrives able to train and play immediately but is not expected to be fully ready for action for three to four weeks.
