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Analysis
- 5 hours ago
Rangers takeover: 49ers Enterprises promises biggest transfer spend in 25 years as Cerny makes call
Robin Bairner
- 30 May 2025 14:30 BST
- 2 min read
News
Rangers have announced that the long-awaited takeover from Andrew Cavenagh and 49ers Enterprises has been completed, with a huge cash injection set to act as a catalyst for the club’s summer transfer spending.
49ers Enterprises has bought a controlling stake of 51% in the Ibrox club, with Cavenagh stepping into the role of chairman, with Paraag Marathe acting as his vice-chairman.
The Gers have been embroiled in months of negotiations with the group and was finalised on 30 May, 2025.
Now there is a pledge for 49ers Enterprises to make an immediate impact.
A statement on Rangers’ official website reads: “The consortium will chart a new strategic vision for the club’s future prioritising on-pitch performance and long-term financial sustainability.
“The new leadership has committed to invest £20 million [€24m] into the club at this time, which will be subject to shareholder approval at the General Meeting on 23 June 2025.”
Rangers are, therefore, set for their biggest summer transfer spend since the summer of 2000, when Tore Andre Flo became their record signing when he joined from Chelsea in a deal worth €18m. The total spend that summer was a record €45.2m.
Indeed, the €24m in the transfer kitty promises the third-biggest spend in club history, with only the summer of 1998/99 otherwise surpassing that figure.
The first task on the agenda, though, will be finding a new manager after Steven Gerrard turned a return to Ibrox down.
Could that mean the return of Vaclav Cerny?
Cerny’s future remains in the balance following a spectacular season at Rangers, during which he scored 18 goals and created more in nine appearances for the Gers.
In what was a difficult campaign overall for the Ibrox club, Cerny was a standout figure, narrowly missing out on the club’s Player of the Year to Nico Raskin.
Current ETV
Vaclav Cerny
F, M (R)
Rangers
Vaclav Cerny
F, M (R)
Rangers
ETV Range
€8.3M - €11.2M
But the 27-year-old winger was on loan from Bundesliga side Wolfsburg, leading to uncertainty over his place at the Glasgow giants.
Although his German side are plotting a summer fire sale, Rangers face the threat of Champions League side Olympiacos pinching Cerny from them. The Greeks are reportedly reading a €9m bid for the Czech Republic international winger, which may be enough to fend off the Premiership runners-up.
