Rangers sign Westerlo's Rommens - but what are they getting?

Tuur Rommens in action for WesterloImage source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Rangers will give Tuur Rommens time to bed in at Ibrox

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Rangers have completed the signing of Tuur Rommens from Westerlo, but what are Ibrox club getting from the Belgian left-back?

The 22-year-old arrives on an three-and-a-half-year contract and boosts Rangers' options at the left side of defence, with Jayden Meghoma the only other natural in that position.

The Genk academy product attracted interest from Feyenoord in the summer.

Former Hearts and Dundee United manager Robbie Neilson is currently assistant head coach at Belgian side SK Lommel and told BBC Scotland: "Feyenoord tried to sign him in the summer and are historically very good at recruitment.

"They tend to take a lot of top talents from Belgium into the Dutch league."

Having joined Genk's academy from Westerlo as a youngster, Rommens struggled to break into the first team and returned 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 and has been capped nine times by his country at under-21 level.

Rommens is likely to be aware of what to expect at Rangers as well - his current head coach, Issame Charai, was Philippe Clement's assistant at Ibrox.

"He'll have spoken to him and made him understand the size of the club, the pressure of the club and the expectations," Neilson said.

"Westerlo is not a huge club - it's about 8,000 or 9,000 capacity - so going from that into Ibrox could be difficult."

'He does the basics very well'

Neilson, who recently came up against Rommens in a friendly with Lommel , is familiar with the defender's qualities.

"I like him," Neilson said. "He's good one v one, he's a good passer, good in the air, which is always important in Scotland.

"He's good at getting forward and has good deliveries from crosses. He's not exceptionally quick or skilful, but he does the basics very well.

"I think he'll be a good addition at Rangers, because I think he'll be solid in that left-back area. I think he's a guy who can come in and make that position his own.

"In Belgium, you play against top, top wingers, so there won't be anybody in Scotland who's got that level of quality playing against them."

Rommens told Rangers' website "it's a dream to play for a club like this" and is looking forward to playing for a club that regularly qualifies for European football.

Meanwhile, head coach Danny Rohl described him as "a young and hungry player who adds real quality and physicality to the group".

Rommens arrives able to train and play immediately, but his early involvement will be managed and he is not expected be fully ready for action for three to four weeks.