Fenerbahce president Ali Koc has confirmed that the Turkish giants spent ‘six months’ working on a deal to bring Ryan Kent to Istanbul from Rangers.
After leaving Ibrox following the expiration of his contract last month, Ryan Kent will be providing ammunition for one of Europe’s most lethal modern day marskmen in his new Turkish home.
The former Rangers winger joins the evergreen Edin Dzeko at Fenerbahce.
And Ali Koc, president of Fener since 2018, is delighted to land two of his leading transfer targets as as the Yellow Canaries look to snatch the Super Lig crown off the heads of bitter rivals Galatasaray next season.
Ryan Kent leaves Rangers for Fenerbahce
“We have had three transfers (so far),” Koc tells Sporx.
“We’ve been working for Irfan Can Egribayat and Edin Dzeko for a long time. We have been dealing with Ryan Kent for six months.”
Kent, who joined Rangers from Liverpool in a £7 million deal, signs a four-year contract at Fenerbahce. His place in the Gers side may now be taken by Abdallah Sima; the versatile forward arriving on loan from Brighton and Hove Albion.
“From the moment I got the offer, I was looking forward to it,” Kent tells the Fenerbahce website.
“I’m so happy to finally be here. I’ve also heard very good things about Istanbul. I can’t wait to meet with my teammates, our coaching staff and our fans.”
Kent departs on the back of a frustrating final season at the Glasgow giants. He scored only three goals in 44 games across all competitions, and never really felt like a natural fit for the roving playmaker role in Mick Beale’s split-striker system.
That is a position which may soon be occupied by Sam Lammers; the £3 million signing from Atalanta hoping to rediscover the form that put made him among the most exciting forwards in the Eredivisie at Heerenveen.
Rangers have also been heavily linked with Aris’ Luis Palma. That deal, however, no longer appears to be on the cards.
