Rangers midfielder Thelo Aasgaard has joined Belgian giants Anderlecht on loan for the remainder of the season, with the club holding an option to make the move permanent in the summer.
The deal will see Rangers receive a reported £1 million loan fee, while Anderlecht now have the opportunity to sign the 24-year-old on a permanent basis at the end of the campaign.
A Rangers statement read: “Thelo Aasgaard has tonight joined Anderlecht on-loan for the remainder of the season. The deal will see Rangers receive a significant loan fee, while Anderlecht also have an option to make the deal permanent. Everyone at Rangers wishes Thelo the best for his spell in Belgium.”
Aasgaard made a strong start to the season, scoring on the opening day against Dundee United. However, opportunities have become increasingly limited in recent weeks. The arrival of Minsu Kim, who operates in the attacking midfield role, has added further competition for places and restricted Aasgaard’s playing time.
The Norway international midfielder had travelled with the Rangers squad before the move was finalised, with manager Derek McInnes revealing that developments had accelerated during the day.
“Thelo travelled with us earlier in the day to the hotel, but obviously things kind of moved on pretty quickly and materialised there,” McInnes told RangersTV.
“So, as far as I’m led to believe, there’s a deal being agreed. And Thelo is speaking to the club now, maybe going through a medical, but I don’t think it’s finalised yet.
“But it looks likely that Thelo’s season is going to be with someone else, and we wish him well if that is the case.
“But, you know, it’s sometimes just the way it is on the transfer window the last couple of days.
“There’s a wee bit of to-ing and fro-ing, and it’s not ideal from a manager’s point of view.”