Kevin Thelwell shatters 25-year Rangers tradition to prove his point as Everton source exposes Chermiti truth

Kevin Thelwell, sporting director at Ibrox, has made headlines with his decision to greenlight the high-profile signing of Youssef Chermiti from Everton. At a reported £8 million, with potential add-ons pushing the fee into eight figures, this transfer marks Rangers’ most expensive acquisition in 25 years. The move has sparked significant debate among the club’s supporters, many of whom are questioning whether the largely untested striker is the right investment for such a hefty sum.

Chermiti, a Portuguese Under-21 international, previously joined Everton from Sporting Lisbon in a £12 million deal orchestrated by Thelwell in 2023. Yet, during his time at Goodison Park, the forward managed only 25 appearances, just two of which were starts, and he failed to score a single goal. His stint on Merseyside was marred by injuries and limited opportunities, making his effectiveness at the highest level an open question.

Former Everton and Rangers defender Michael Ball has cautioned Thelwell that the success of this transfer could define his standing at Ibrox. Ball stated to Record Sport: “I think Kev feels that he’s got a point to prove that he was right with Chermiti. He feels that this is the type of player that the club needs – but yeah, he’s put his reputation on the line with this one. From a fan’s point of view, it’s a big financial risk to spend so much money on one player. So it’s down to the player to prove that point. If it all comes good, it’s all nice and rosy for Kevin Thelwell. But if it turns sour, there’s going to be a lot of fingers pointed in Kev’s direction.”

Ball highlighted the inherent risks in football recruitment, acknowledging the difficulty of consistently identifying successful signings. “Every decision in recruitment is like that. Signing players is one of the hardest things in football to get right. Not many teams do. Kevin has stuck his neck out and put his trust in Chermiti. But he knows the player’s character, he knows what Scottish football is all about, so if he feels that Chermiti is ticking all the boxes and is exactly what Glasgow Rangers needs, good luck to him,” Ball added.

Despite Chermiti’s lack of goals for Everton, Ball expressed sympathy for the 21-year-old forward, attributing his struggles to limited chances rather than poor performances. “To be fair to Youssef Chermiti, he hasn’t played poorly – he just hasn’t been given the opportunity to shine and to develop down here, which is really disappointing for his behalf,” Ball explained.

Now, as Chermiti arrives in Glasgow, Ball believes the pressure is on the young striker to deliver and justify Thelwell’s continued faith. “I’m happy for him that he’s got the move to Rangers, but now it’s up to him to justify the faith that Kevin Thelwell has shown in him. Kevin brought him to the football club as he felt he was going to be the future of Everton and the club’s No9. Rangers also have that big No9 culture so now he needs that chance to develop and show he understands how British football works.”

Ball concluded by emphasizing the expectations tied to the sizable transfer fee, especially within the context of Scottish football. “There’s no doubt, he needs to step up to the plate and prove to the Rangers fans why Kevin Thelwell has twice signed him. Obviously Kev sees something in Chermiti and feels he’s worth the amount of money Everton and now Rangers have paid for him. The fee – £8million – might not be very big down here but it’s big for Glasgow Rangers and Scottish football right now, so the fans will want an immediate impact, and it’s up to Youssef Chermiti to prove he’s worth it.”