Rangers confirmed their seventh first team signing of the Summer transfer window with the unveiling of Ridvan Yilmaz.
The 21-year old Turkish international comes to Ibrox with an exciting reputation, an already established impressive skill-set with his significant further potential resulting in a scout report description of Yilmaz’ ‘supreme technical ability’,
His arrival means significant competition for Borna Barisic in the short-term as well as an eventual succession plan, with the latter depending on just how quickly the new signing can adapt on the pitch in Glasgow. Having come from a big club in a football-mad city, there will be some similarities for the young Turkish player but this is his first move abroad and must be allowed time to settle off the pitch as well.
💙 Welcome to Rangers, Rıdvan Yılmaz 🇹🇷
— Rangers Football Club (@RangersFC) July 25, 2022
Craig Vickers, writing for The Rangers Review, cast his eye on previous performances of Ridvan Yilmaz for Besiktas as well as the Turkish national side with some of the following findings:
“When he does decide to deliver the ball into the danger area, he tends to cross either low and hard across the face of goal, or floated into space for a teammate to attack in the air”
“In many respects, Yilmaz can be most likened as a full-back to RB Leipzig and former Manchester City full-back Angelino. The Spaniard – who scored and assisted against Rangers in the Europa League semi-finals last season – is equally as diminutive, yet both boast a technical capacity that make them difficult to dislodge in possession.”
The full report is recommended reading on the latest signing for Giovanni van Bronckhorst.
At just 5’7, there will be some questions on the stature of Yilmaz competing in the very physical Scottish game but as much as he will face challenges aerially, his slight frame and agility will also be an asset, “underpinned by his supreme technical ability and body orientation.”