Disparity in Transfer Fees: Hamza Igamane’s Move Compared to Celtic Sales

Hamza Igamane Rangers transfer fee amid Celtic sales comparison chasm
Hamza Igamane Rangers transfer fee amid Celtic sales comparison chasm

€23m for the biggest transfer exit

Hamza Igamane's transfer fee as Rangers faces off against Celtic's sales

Hamza Igamane is set to leave Rangers this summer, with Lille emerging as the frontrunner for the Moroccan international’s signature. According to Transfermarkt, while Rangers have yet to receive formal offers for Igamane, the player’s representatives have already reached an agreement on personal terms with Lille. Rangers discovered Igamane’s talent while he was with Moroccan club AS Far, acquiring him for €2.36 million last summer. Just one year later, they stand to make a significant profit.

It is reported that an initial fee of around €15 million will prompt Rangers to open negotiations, with potential add-ons bringing the total over €20 million. Deals of this nature often include sell-on clauses for high-potential players, and Rangers are expected to seek future financial incentives. While Lille is keen on finalizing a deal for Igamane, Marseille is also keeping an eye on the 22-year-old, along with some tentative interest from clubs in the English Premier League. Rangers will be hoping for multiple clubs to solidify their interest with formal offers, potentially leading to a bidding war, which would make Igamane one of the club’s record sales.

Rangers’ Record Transfer Sales

After moving to Europe from Africa, Rangers provided Igamane ample time to adapt to the requirements of European football, although his immense potential was quickly evident. While there’s room for improvement in his work rate and consistency, Igamane shone with 16 goals in 46 appearances, illustrating his ability to perform at a higher level, particularly in the Europa League compared to the Scottish Premiership. A consortium based in the US, led by chairman Andrew Cavenagh, has recently completed a takeover of Rangers, making it crucial to enhance the club’s poor record of player sales. As shown in the graphic below, Rangers have only sold one player for over €15 million in their history: Calvin Bassey’s €23 million transfer to Ajax in 2022.

If Rangers can secure an initial fee of €15 million or more for Igamane—which is deemed realistic—he would come to be their second most expensive sale, surpassing Nathan Patterson’s transfer to Everton. Notably, only three players among Rangers’ top ten sales have been transferred since 2020: Bassey, Patterson, and Joe Aribo. The club must enhance its player trading approach to narrow the gap with Celtic, who, over the last five seasons, have generated €171.3 million through player sales, €106.3 million more than Rangers’ €65 million. While Bassey remains Rangers’ only sale exceeding €15 million, Celtic has sold seven players for fees above that amount.