Rangers star desperate to join Chelsea: 'He's not been shy in saying that'

25 Sept 2026 20:02 BST | 3 min read

Xabi Alonso, Derek McInnes, Chelsea — © IMAGO

Tom Weber | Writer

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Rangers midfielder Nicolas Raskin intended to use the club as a stepping stone to Chelsea, a former teammate has revealed.

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The Belgium international has once again hit the headlines this week, when he seemingly changed his tune regarding his Rangers future. Having previously suggested that he was happy to stay at the club, he has now admitted that he wants a high-profile transfer.

Raskin has been perennially linked with an Ibrox exit over the past two years after establishing himself as one of Rangers' best performers. In the early stages of last season, the 25-year-old was even dropped by then-manager Russell Martin because he allegedly had his head turned.

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No transfer materialised at the time, and it was the same story this summer, despite some impressive performances at the World Cup. There was interest from numerous clubs in Serie A, LaLiga and Turkey, but Raskin remains on the books at Rangers.

This has been a source of frustration not only for him, but also for pundits in his native Belgium. Earlier this month, Philippe Albert insisted that it was incomprehensible to him that Raskin is still playing in Scotland.

Jack: Raskin always viewed Rangers as stepping stone

Speaking while on international duty, Raskin confirmed: "It is a bit of a disappointment, because I was mentally ready to leave. But that’s football, and it’s not a big deal. There are many factors and off-field issues to consider when it comes to a transfer."

He added: “Ultimately, I’m not in a position where I absolutely have to leave. Rangers is a good club; I’m playing regularly, we have a great squad this year, and we’re achieving good things. If you ask me whether I wanted to take the next step and keep progressing, I’d say 'yes.'"

To Raskin's former Gers teammate Ryan Jack, these comments are not surprising. He says that the Belgian never made a secret of his ambition and even had a clear transfer plan in mind: to eventually join Chelsea.

"He's got himself in the Belgian national team, got to the World Cup, done really well and agents have been obviously trying to get him that move," Jack told Go Radio.

"It's going to be difficult for Nico in the sense that maybe he's had his heart set thinking that [he was going to get a move], and he's not been shy in saying that. When he first came, I remember he said he wanted to use the club as a stepping stone to Chelsea.

"Look, I've got no problem with that. It's showing ambition, it's showing that you want to do the best you can for your career. If you've got drive and determination to try and better your career, and if Rangers get the fee that they think you're worth, then it works for everyone."

There is now a firm expectation that this is Raskin's final season at Ibrox. Anything else would be a major surprise. Whether he will end up at Chelsea is a different question, of course, although the Blues could use a midfielder like him, and he likely wouldn't be overly expensive.