RANGERS are in line to bank another £7million in transfer add-ons following the sales of some of their top academy talents to the Premier League.
The Light Blues have cashed in on the likes of Nathan Patterson and Rory Wilson, who moved to Everton and Aston Villa respectively, in recent seasons as significant investment at Auchenhowie has paid dividends on and off the park.
That process has been aided by the funds raised through the Rangers Youth Development Company and the total donation to the academy now stands at more than £10million after the latest six-figure cheque handover on Monday.
Patterson's switch to Goodison Park was a then record sale for Rangers and a successful player trading model will be crucial in the coming years as the Scottish Cup holders target domestic silverware and seek to compete on the continent under the guidance of boss Michael Beale.
And Head of Academy Craig Mulholland is determined to see more rising stars emerge through the ranks and have a real impact on the pitch and on the balance sheet at Ibrox.
Mulholland said: “Since the Academy was remodelled in 2015, we have been asking the fans to buy into a vision which would see Rangers begin to develop exciting talent to play in a winning and successful Rangers team, also allowing us to commence a player trading model, to augment our income and keep Rangers winning.
“We are now able to demonstrate some exciting outcomes from that vision. In the last five years we have brought in more than £15m in transfer fees for Academy players, with many additions, perhaps in excess of £7m, still to come on those deals.
“Then there is the combined value of Adam Devine, Leon King, Alex Lowry and Robby McCrorie, all members of the current first-team squad, taking the total value generated from the Academy well beyond £20m.
“With 10 graduates playing in the first-team last season, 8 playing already this season, Leon King achieving 19 appearances so far this season and becoming the U19 player with the most minutes in the Champions League, Adam’s important contribution while Borna was at the World Cup, and Alex’s recent start against Motherwell taking it to 14 games in a row where a recent Academy graduate has started – we can now be proud of the talent our club is producing.
"Given their current potential, at ‘A’ squad and U21 international level, it is likely that Robby McCrorie, Nathan Patterson, Adam Devine, Leon King, Billy Gilmour, Alex Lowry and Rory Wilson could all become key and important players for their country, generating a sporting or financial return for Rangers, and all were developed from age eight or younger in our Academy here at Rangers."
