Rangers deal for Couhaib Driouech falls through after Ibrox appearance

Couhaib Driouech will not join Rangers after the proposed transfer collapsed, despite the PSV Eindhoven winger being present at Ibrox for the Scottish club’s European fixture on Thursday.

Rangers had been expected to pay about €8m to sign Driouech, who was pictured in the stands as the team faced Polish club Jagiellonia Białystok in a UEFA Europa League qualifying match.

However, the agreement was called off only a few hours later. According to VI, the reasons for the failed transfer remain unclear, with Driouech now expected to return to PSV Eindhoven.

The sudden change represents a dramatic conclusion to a deal that appeared to be close to completion. Driouech’s presence at Ibrox had suggested that the move was nearing its final stages, but no agreement could ultimately be reached between the relevant parties.

The collapse is also the latest in a series of unsuccessful transfers involving PSV Eindhoven. Deals for American forward Ricardo Pepi, Burkina Faso defender Adamo Nagalo and Armando Obispo have also been cancelled at the last moment in recent times.

Driouech’s proposed move to Rangers had centred on the Scottish club’s intention to bring in the winger for a fee of approximately eight million euros. His appearance at Thursday’s match reinforced expectations that the transfer would be completed, before the agreement was abandoned later that night.

The circumstances behind the breakdown have not been explained. VI reported that the causes remain uncertain, while the player is expected to return to PSV Eindhoven rather than continue with the move to Rangers.

For Rangers, the outcome leaves the club without the winger they had been preparing to sign. For Driouech, the immediate consequence is a return to PSV Eindhoven after his planned switch to Scotland failed despite his attendance at Ibrox.

The transfer therefore moves from apparent completion to cancellation within the space of a single evening. Driouech was present for Rangers’ match against Jagiellonia Białystok, but the expected transfer did not follow, and the player is now set to go back to the Dutch club.