Rangers have agreed a fee of around £9million for Portland Timbers hitman Kevin Kelsy, with the Venezuelan closing in on a move to Ibrox ahead of next week’s transfer deadline.
Kelsy, 22, emerged as a major target for Derek McInnes in the last fortnight, with the manager searching for a replacement for Youssef Chermiti, who is set for a significant spell on the sidelines after suffering an ACL injury in the 2-1 defeat to Hibs earlier this month.
While McInnes has captain Lawrence Shankland, Ryan Naderi and Bojan Miovski as attacking options to choose from in his squad, the 54-year-old was understood to be keen to bring Kelsy to Glasgow after an impressive stint with Portland Timbers, where he has bagged 19 goals and four assists across the last two seasons since joining from FC Cincinnati in 2024.
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Rangers have agreed a £9million fee for Kelsy ahead of next week's transfer deadline.placeholder image
Rangers have agreed a £9million fee for Kelsy ahead of next week's transfer deadline. | Getty Images
According to reports, Rangers and Portland Timbers have now reached an agreement on a fee, with the transfer expected to be rubber-stamped in the coming days. The fee paid to the MLS outfit will include performance-based add-ons.
Beginning his career at Mineros De Guayana in his home country, he joined Uruguayan side Boston River on a free transfer, but instantly transferred from the Montevideo-based side, penning a four-year contract with Ukrainian giants Shakhtar Donetsk in January 2023.
Scoring seven goals in 27 games at Arena Lviv, he moved to the United States, signing on loan for FC Cincinnati. Spending six months on loan at the TQL Stadium in Ohio as a teenager, Kelsy made an impression in the American top tier, finding the net six times before returning to Shakhtar in December 2024.
He returned Stateside almost immediately, however, signing for Portland Timbers for a fee of £4.4million, where he’s flourished, helping the Rose City side qualify for the playoffs in their 50th anniversary season. His form at Providence Park saw his reputation rise and attract significant transfer attention, though the Timbers were reluctant to sell him earlier in the transfer window. Determined to keep him to fuel another playoff push, they had originally rebuffed interest in the youngster.
Kelsy has seven caps for the Venezuela senior team.placeholder image
Kelsy has seven caps for the Venezuela senior team. | Getty Images
He has been previously compared to Aston Villa and England frontman Ollie Watkins, who has scored 108 goals for the Midlands giants since his move there from Brentford six years ago, with a detailed scouting report from Total Football Analysis recognising he shared similar on-pitch characteristics, such as ‘immense energy and variety in his short and long runs into space’.
The 6ft 3in forward has also been likened to Galatasaray striker Victor Osimhen due to his aerial strength and effectiveness at attacking crosses in the box. Should Kelsy complete a move to Rangers, his £9million price tag will make him Rangers' second most expensive signing in their history, just behind Tore-Andre Flo, who signed from Chelsea for £12million at the turn of the Millennium.