If Rangers thought their one-time central defensive target was expensive back in 2023, then his £38.5 million switch one year later continues the rapid ascent of both his price-tag and his reputation.
Rangers, as they have been with a number of talented up-and-coming players in recent times, were ahead of the curve when it came to Paris Saint-Germain’s latest big-money signing.
The Glasgow giants liked Albert Gudmundsson, Ian Maatsen and Andreas Skov Olsen before it was cool to do so. And after scouting William Pacho during his time at Royal Antwerp just over a year ago, another of their hipster darlings has hit the mainstream.
According to Het Nieuwsblad, Rangers watched Pacho as Royal Antwerp ended their near-60-year wait for the Belgian crown during the 2022/23 campaign.
At the time, the Colombia international was valued at £8 million, moving to the Bundesliga with Eintracht Frankfurt for a fee that would have made him the second-most expensive signing in Rangers’ entire history.
Just 12 months later, Pacho’s outstanding performances in Germany’s top flight have seen Frankfurt bank a colossal sum from French champions PSG for the second time in two years.
PSG sign former Rangers target William Pacho
Pacho joins former Commerzbank Arena hitman Randal Kolo-Muani at the Parc des Princes. PSG are £38.5 million for their troubles, per Get France Football News.
“I’m very happy to be joining Paris Saint-Germain,” Pacho, who was recently linked with Real Madrid too, told the club’s official website during his unveiling on Friday.
“I hope to bring my personality and show all my determination to win many trophies.”
Alongside Kolo-Muani and Bradley Barcola, Pacho represents a further shift from PSG’s old Galactico-style transfer policy towards a more sustainable approach based around young, homegrown talents.
“We are delighted to welcome Willian Pacho to the Paris Saint-Germain family,” president Nasser Al-Khelaifi adds. “Willian is a fantastic young international player, and the latest top talent to join our club.
“At Paris Saint-Germain, we continue to build our project based on an amazing, young talented team.”
Philippe Clement preaches patience with Robin Propper
Having been priced out of the race for Pacho, Rangers’ left-sided centre-back options currently consist of Ben Davies, Leon Balogun, Clinton Nsiala and the versatile John Souttar.
It has been a difficult start to the campaign for Philippe Clement’s defenders, however. Despite keeping a clean sheet against Hearts on the Premiership’s opening weekend and keeping Dynamo Kiev largely at arms’ length Poland, neither Davies, Balogun nor the shaky Souttar have done anything really to convince.
Clamour is increasing, therefore, for Clement to throw £1.5 million signing Robin Propper into his starting XI. Potentially, beginning with Saturday’s trip to Motherwell.
“(It was a) tough decision to make not to start with Robin Propper but it is more because he is not fresh for the moment,” Clement told Rangers TV after leaving the Dutchman out of that Dynamo clash in the Champions League qualifiers.
“People don’t realise that, but if a player comes into the building these days when you come to the UK there is a lot of work to be done with papers. He even had to travel outside the country to come back to get his visa and things like that.
“So he is less fresh for the moment and we expect him to start the next couple of games. But today he was not fresh enough to start.”
