Eintracht Frankfurt have officially confirmed the signing of William Pacho with Rangers missing out on the highly-rated centre-back.
An eight-figure profit for 18 months’ work? Not bad business for a Royal Antwerp side who plucked Pacho from Independiente del Valle back in January 2022; handing the 21-year-old his big break in European football.
One-and-a-half seasons later, the Ecuador international is crossing the border into Germany for a free which makes him the most expensive export in Antwerp’s history.
Het Laaste Nieuws believe the Jupiler League high-flyers could end up making as much as £14 million. That is, of course, presuming bonuses and add-ons are met.
Rangers target William Pacho heading to the Bundesliga
“For us, this is an important transfer for the coming season,” says Frankfurt’s sporting director Markus Krosche, almost a year on from Rangers’ Europa League final defeat to Die Adler in Seville.
Pacho looks set to replace Evan Ndicka; the Premier League linked defender who will become a free-agent on July 1st.
“Willian is still young, but already has international experience,” Krosche adds. “Above all, his speed and strength in duels characterise him. We are delighted that he has chosen Eintracht and we want to develop his great potential.”
Given the sheer size of Pacho’s price-tag, any hopes Rangers may have harboured of luring the youngster to Ibrox probably died a death long ago.
According to Het Nieuwsblad, Rangers sent scouts to watch Pacho in the first half of the season. But since the turn of the year – Pacho earning his first international cap for Ecuador, scoring the winner on debut against Australia, while helping solidify Royal Antwerp’s place in the European places – his price-tag has rocketed as rapidly as his reputation.
A left-footed central defender, Pacho was more-than-likely viewed at Ibrox as a replacement for the departing Filip Helander. A left-sided defender is one of Mick Beale’s top priorities this summer (The Athletic).
Rangers, at least, already appear to have turned their focus to more affordable options. Nottingham Forest’s Coventry City loanee Jonathan Panzo is another on Beale’s radar (Daily Record).
