Rangers Set to Sign Chukwuani and Appoint Gillespie as CEO
Rangers are poised to announce the signing of midfielder Tochi Chukwuani from Austrian club Sturm Graz ahead of Sunday’s match against Aberdeen. The club is also expected to confirm Jim Gillespie, the vice-chairman of St Mirren, as their new chief executive early next week.
In addition, Rangers are in negotiations to acquire left-back Tuur Rommens from Belgian club Westerloo, although this transfer may not be finalized until late next week.
As the January transfer window approaches, Rangers are anticipated to be active in the market. Chairman Andrew Cavenagh has publicly stated that the club requires a left-back, a defensive midfielder, as well as additional creativity and goal-scoring options.
Chukwuani, a 22-year-old Denmark under-21 international, has primarily played on the left side of midfield this season, including in a 2-1 victory against Russell Martin's Rangers in the Europa League earlier this term.
Similarly, Rommens, also 22 and a Belgian under-21 international, began his career at Genk and attracted interest from Feyenoord during the summer transfer window.
Gillespie Set for Belated Ibrox Arrival
Gillespie, 47, has been strongly linked to the chief executive position at Ibrox since Patrick Stewart's departure in November. He has played a significant role at St Mirren and is also the CEO of the children’s charity The Kibble.
A Rangers supporter, Gillespie was considered for the role when James Bisgrove left the club for Saudi Arabia just before the start of the 2024-25 season. He had discussions with then-chairman John Bennett about a potential move to Ibrox, but it did not materialize at that time.
“Rangers are a massive institution, a great organization, and ultimately you have those conversations,” he remarked previously. “But I’ve got an amazing job at Kibble. It’s rewarding in more than just financial terms to make a difference to the kids I work with daily and the staff I rely on. That’s something special – and obviously, I’m now firmly embedded in St Mirren. Whether it’s Rangers or other clubs, you’ve got to listen.”
It is believed that chairman Cavenagh was always interested in hiring someone with experience in Scottish football, while also considering candidates beyond domestic contenders.
When asked why the club was not pursuing a high-profile CEO from a major club, Cavenagh indicated that he does not believe Rangers require a figure of significant glamour but rather someone with the capability to execute the strategic plan devised by the club's ownership consortium.