Rangers Sign Kevin Kelsy and Add Badredine Bouanani on Loan

Rangers completed two additions as Scotland's summer transfer window closed on Thursday, signing Venezuela striker Kevin Kelsy from Portland Timbers and taking Algeria winger Badredine Bouanani on a season-long loan from Stuttgart. BBC Sport reported that Kelsy's transfer fee was not disclosed. The two arrivals increased the number of players added to the Ibrox squad this summer to 14.

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Kelsy, 22, has agreed a four-year contract with Rangers that includes an option for one further year. The 6-foot-4, left-footed forward had joined Portland on a four-year deal in January 2025 after leaving Shakhtar Donetsk. His move gives Rangers another central attacking option on a long-term agreement.

According to BBC Sport, Kelsy made 16 appearances for Portland this season, scoring 10 goals and providing three assists. Across his time with the Timbers, he recorded 19 goals and five assists in 63 matches. Portland finished eighth in Major League Soccer's Western Conference last year and were 11th in the conference at the time of his Rangers transfer.

The striker was born in Valencia, Venezuela, and began his senior career with Mineros de Guayana. He later played for Boston River in Uruguay before joining Shakhtar, where he was part of two title-winning seasons and scored nine times in 37 appearances. Kelsy first played in MLS during a 2024 loan with Cincinnati, scoring six goals in 23 outings, and has earned six senior caps for Venezuela.

Bouanani, 21, arrives on a temporary deal after one season with Stuttgart. BBC Sport reported that the German club signed him from Nice for a reported £13 million a little more than a year ago. He made nine starts and 13 substitute appearances last season as Stuttgart finished fourth in the Bundesliga, but he had not featured this season before the loan was completed.

The Lille-born winger developed in Lille's youth system and later moved to Nice, with a loan spell at Lorient during that period. He represented France at youth level before switching his international allegiance to Algeria in 2023. Bouanani also has prior experience against Scottish opposition: he was part of the Nice team beaten 4-1 by Rangers in the Europa League two years ago and started Stuttgart's 1-0 home defeat by Celtic in last season's Europa League play-off. Together, the deadline-day moves add a permanent striker and a season-long wide option to the Rangers squad.