Thelo Aasgaard tells Rangers fans his transfer decision was 'easy' as £3.5m man rubber stamped on 4 year deal
Overjoyed Thelo Aasgaard has officially signed for Rangers – and told fans it was an easy decision to sign up for the Russell Martin revolution.
Martin has moved fast to secure the Norway cap on a four-year deal, with the club shelling out £3.5m to land the Luton Town playmaker.
It means the new Ibrox owners have spent £6m this week along with Emmanuel Fernandez also coming north from Peterborough, with Martin's squad beginning to take serious shape.
The Light Blues have also snapped up Max Aarons and Joe Rothwell from English Premier League outfit Bournemouth as well as Lyall Cameron who signed a pre-contract from Dundee.
Now Aasgaard makes the switch north from Luton Town as he swaps League One for a shot at the Champions League where Gers face Panathinaikos in qualifying later this month.
It's been a long wait for the 23-year-old but he's buzzing to get it over the line at last as he said: 'I am delighted to be here. I have been waiting for it, but I am glad to get it over the line.
'When I heard about Rangers I was over the moon. I have played against the manager's teams a few times and I always pictured myself in his team and to be here now is really good.
'It was an easy decision, I love the number of games here, it is like the EFL and I love playing. The stature and history is enough as well."
Boss Martin added: 'We are delighted to bring Thelo to the club.
'He is a player who we have liked for a long time, and we believe he possesses the necessary qualities to thrive at this club and in this team. He wants to win and develop as a player, and we believe we can help him do both.
'His attributes will enhance the group and look forward to him getting to know his teammates on and off the pitch.'
Sporting director Kevin Thelwell said: 'Thelo is a player who has been on the radar of several clubs around Europe.
'He is a player capable of making the difference in the final third of the pitch and strengthens an area of the squad that we feel is important.
'We believe he will be a fantastic addition to the side and an important asset in the years to come.'
Tune in to Hotline Live every Sunday to Thursday and have your say on the biggest issues in Scottish football and listen to Record Sport's newest podcast, Game On, every Friday for your sporting fix, all in bitesize chunks.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
an hour ago
- Scottish Sun
Celtic star admits Scotland national team call-up is a target and says ‘I'm sure at some point it WILL happen'
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) LUKE McCOWAN is living the dream at boyhood heroes Celtic. Now he's aiming to make a Scotland call-up a reality. Sign up for the Celtic newsletter Sign up 5 Luke McCowan admits he is targeting a Scotland call-up Credit: Kenny Ramsay 5 The midfielder won the Scottish title in his debut season at Parkhead Credit: Kenny Ramsay 5 The ex-Dundee star says he's aiming to have a bigger role with the Hoops this term Credit: Kenny Ramsay The former Dundee midfielder achieved his career ambition just by signing for the club he's supported all his life. But McCowan, 27, is desperate for more, and would love to make the breakthrough into Steve Clarke's squad for the World Cup qualifiers. Asked if Scotland recognition was a target, he said: "Of course. "If it comes along, I'd be really honoured to go and put that top on and represent my country. "Just now, it's not happening. "But I'm sure that if I was to play well enough in the times ahead, it will hopefully come along for me. "Scotland is not something that I'm totally focused on. "I'm focused on Celtic, but if that was to come along, I would be absolutely delighted. "That's an aim for anybody playing at a club this size, to go and play for your national team. "It's outwith my control, I just need to keep doing what I have been doing, and if I can add numbers and more game time in the league this year, hopefully I'll get a chance. Nygren 'will be Hoops' best transfer this summer' plus Kuhn, Yamada latest | Celtic transfer special "You would always like to think that you have something to offer at Celtic, so why can't I do it with Scotland? "I'm sure at some point, if I was to keep the level I have been performing at here, it will happen. "And if it does, then I'll come out with open arms and be delighted with it." McCowan is right to believe he CAN break into the Scotland set-up soon. He's proved at the champions he's got the technical ability to cope with top-level football. If he can play regularly for gaffer Brendan Rodgers this season then Clarke must consider giving him a chance in a Dark Blue jersey. McCowan added: "I'm feeling great. "It's good to get a pre-season and just work on the parts of my game that I need to improve on. "Hopefully by the time the league comes round I'll have improved, and I can use that going into the season." After making the move from Dens Park last August, McCowan played his part in Celtic's title-winning season. But he's determined to improve in the months and years ahead and get even better. McCowan said: "Every day is a learning day, and you want to take as much information as you can when you're playing with guys like Cal McGregor, Jamesy Forrest, and all the leaders in that dressing room. 5 "I just need to hopefully become as much of a leader as I can this year and have another good season. "You can't just go into a changing room full of league winners and cup winners and act like one of them. "You need to learn that from those guys. "I learned last year, and it's about learning again this year and using it as much as I can and using the experience from last year. "I'm feeling good going into pre-season. "And I believe I can improve again, 100 per cent. "If you don't think like that, there's no point in continuing. "Every day is learning, I need to stay motivated and hope that this season could be even bigger than the one last year. "It's about repeating it and probably doing better than what I did last season. "It's about adding more numbers again and more creativity, whatever it may be. "I've always looked at my stats and used them as something to work on. "I've worked on it forever now, I've always done it and I believe that will continue this year. Aberdeen brutally troll EVERY Premiership rival with video including Celtic captain crying & Rangers TV's 'corrupt' clip "But it's about using the good of last year and then trying to improve the bits that maybe weren't so good for myself, and making them better for the season ahead." McCowan took time off in Italy and Spain during the summer break — but was soon back training hard. He added: "You rest for three or four days and then your mind just goes. "You need to get a bit of sweat on and try and get back in there. "I was on the treadmills and pitches, but then you get the feet up as well, so it's nice." McCowan has admitted he's been left gutted by the exit of close pal Greg Taylor who has joined Greek outfit PAOK. They would regularly hang out at each other's homes — with the Hoops ace revealing he failed in his attempts to keep the left-back at Celts. McCowan said: "There's an empty space in the changing room — and an empty space in my living room! "We were always round each other's houses. "The two of us are the exact same, and it's sad as we both would have loved to play beside each other longer. 5 "But where Greg's career's taken him is a credit to himself, he's a really amazing person. "His family has been over with him as well, and I'm sure they will have a fantastic lifestyle there. "Greece will be a nice place to visit on holiday at some point, so I'm sure I will. "I tried to convince Greg to stay, of course I did. "But football is always moving and always changing. "He'll go on to that challenge with an open mind, and I'm sure he'll do great there." Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Dessers and Igamane face uncertain future as Rangers boss makes no Champions League promises
Rangers boss Russell Martin admits he can offer no guarantees that Cyriel Dessers and Hamza Igamane will be part of the club's Champions League plans. But the new Ibrox boss is adamant that the forward duo won't be sold on the cheap amid transfer interest from across Europe. Dessers was the subject of a failed £4.5million bid from AEK Athens a couple of weeks ago, while Lille are hot on the trail of Igamane. Speaking after his team opened their pre-season with a 2-2 draw against Club Brugge yesterday, Martin revealed: 'We turned down a bid a while ago (for Dessers), which was nowhere near the valuation. 'In terms of the bid (from Lille for Igamane), I've not heard anything.' Rangers' valuation is believed to be around £6m for Nigerian international striker Dessers. They are also holding firm for a fee in excess of £15m for Igamane, who is due back in training this week after a visa complication. With a Champions League qualifier against Panathinaikos now only a fortnight away, Martin is keen to continue his revamp of the squad. But, on whether Dessers and Igamane will still be around to play in those games, he said: 'That's two weeks away, so I can't plan for anything in football. 'Cyriel has just been injured. He had a niggly ankle. He was here today. 'He's been desperate to train. He's needed treatment on his ankle and I'm looking forward to working with him. 'He will get on the training pitch and start enjoying it. He has not kicked up any fuss, he seems a very good pro and I've been told that. 'Hamza has been red tape. He was due to be back with international players but, at the airport, he didn't have the right visa. 'It's no one's fault. Things have changed since and he's got his visa, so he should be in this week. 'I expect the team to look different in a week, but in a couple of weeks so much can happen in football. 'I definitely want to do more and probably some players need to move on because the squad is going to look very big and heavy. So it will definitely look different (by the time they play Panathinaikos).' Reports in Italy have suggested that Rangers could be closing in on a move for Jamie Vardy. The former Leicester City striker had been a target for Genoa, only for that deal to fall through and potentially open up the possibility of a move to Rangers. Asked about that possibility, Martin said: 'I've been asked about so many players. Some are miles away, some on the money. I'm not going to give you an answer. You'll find out who's real and who isn't.' Martin also provided a positive update on the fitness of John Souttar following surgery on a hernia problem. It looked at one point like it might be touch and go in terms of Souttar being available for the Champions League qualifiers. But Martin believes he is well on track and said: 'Yeah, he's good. He's trained the last few days. By the end of the session, he looked exhausted, which is what we want. 'But he's reacting really well to his operation and wants to train. So he'll be back in properly this week and he'll play next weekend (friendly behind closed doors).'
Leader Live
3 hours ago
- Leader Live
Arsenal sign Spain midfielder Martin Zubimendi from Real Sociedad
The Spain international, 26, moves to the Emirates Stadium on a long-term deal after the Gunners reportedly triggered his £51million release clause. Euro 2024 winner Zubimendi had previously been a target for Liverpool and was also linked with Real Madrid. Zubimendi told the club website: 'This is a huge moment in my career. It's the move I was looking for and one I wanted to make. As soon as you set foot here, you realise how big this club and this team are. 'I set my sights on Arsenal because their style of play is a good fit for me. They have shown their potential recently and the best is yet to come.' Gunners boss Mikel Arteta is confident Zubimendi can help reinforce his midfield options, having seen Thomas Partey's contract expire and Jorginho also leave the club. 'Martin is a player who will bring a huge amount of quality and football intelligence to our team. He will fit in really well and he has all the attributes to be a key player for us,' Arteta said. 'The standard he has consistently performed at over the last few seasons for both club and country is exactly why we are so excited to have him with us. We all welcome Martin and his family to the club.' A post shared by Arsenal (@arsenal) A graduate of the Sociedad academy system, Zubimendi made 236 appearances for the club in all competitions at senior level and helped the team lift the delayed 2019-20 Copa del Rey with victory over Athletic Bilbao. He was also involved as Sociedad finished fourth in the 2022-23 season – their highest league finish – to reach the Champions League for only the third time in their history. The midfielder has been capped 19 times by Spain, where he was part of the squad who won the Nations League in 2023 and became European champions last year after beating England in the final. Zubimendi becomes Arsenal's second signing this summer after goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga joined from Chelsea. The Gunners are also expected to complete the signing of Christian Norgaard, with the Brentford captain looking set to join for a reported £10m with a potential £5m of add-ons.
