Glasgow Rangers secure Senegal International Abdallah Sima on season-long loan

Glasgow Rangers have announced the acquisition of Senegal international Abdallah Sima on a season-long loan from Brighton & Hove Albion, set to begin on 1 July, pending international clearance.

The 22-year-old forward signed with Albion in 2021 from Slavia Prague and spent last season with French Ligue 1 side Angers.

"Abdallah had a really strong finish to last season in France, after initially being disrupted by injury — but he once again showed his ability when he did play, and the potential he offers," Albion's technical director, David Weir, said.

"We are hoping he can get a good run of games with Rangers this coming season, both domestically and in European competition, and we will keep a close eye on his progress.”

In the previous season, Sima demonstrated his prowess, scoring five goals in 19 starts with Angers. He began his youth career in Senegal, eventually moving to the French side Thonon Evian.

Sima made waves at FC Taborsko in 2020 before transferring to Slavia, where he scored 16 goals in 33 appearances in all competitions during the 2020/21 season, contributing significantly to their Europa League quarter-final run and their seventh league title.

Sima is the fifth signing for Michael Beale's Rangers in the summer transfer window.

Beale expressed his delight: "We are delighted to have Abdallah join us for the forthcoming season. He is a player I’m excited to work with, he has excellent variety in his game and can fulfil a number of attacking positions in our team."

“He has recently turned 22-years-old and has experienced playing in three domestic top divisions, in the Europa League and is a senior international for Senegal. We met a few weeks ago and discussed at length his alignment to our style of play and his future development as a player.

“He is someone I have followed closely since his breakthrough in the Czech Republic and I am extremely pleased to have Abdallah join the squad at the very start of pre-season." 

Sima himself is equally thrilled about the move: "Rangers is a big club with a big history. I played here for Slavia Prague two or three years ago and when I came here I liked it so for me it is very exciting to join Rangers."

Quotes obtained from www.rangers.co.uk.