Kim Min-soo, a forward born in 2006, is set to leave Spanish side Girona for Scottish giants Rangers.
The Athletic, a global sports outlet, reported on the 24th local time that "Rangers are close to signing Girona winger Kim Min-soo," adding that the player would soon travel to Scotland to complete a transfer worth about 10 million euros (roughly 16.1 billion won).
The transfer fee disclosed in local reports is said to be the buyout figure included in Kim's contract with Girona. Negotiations accelerated once Rangers agreed to pay it in full.
Kim's fee ranks among the highest in Rangers' history. According to British outlet TEAMtalk, it is the second-largest amount the club has ever paid, behind the 12 million pounds Rangers spent to sign Norwegian striker Tore André Flo from Chelsea in November 2000.
Rangers had initially pursued PSV Eindhoven's Couhaib Driouech. But the club halted those talks after concerns arose over the player's health condition and reportedly settled on Kim as an alternative option.
If the contract process is completed smoothly, Kim's debut could come quickly. Local media suggested that, provided there are no problems with the medical test and administrative procedures, Kim could make his Rangers debut in an away Scottish Premiership match against Aberdeen on the 30th.
Kim mainly plays as a wide attacker. He can also operate as a central striker, giving him a reputation for versatility in the attacking line.
He joined the youth team of Girona, then in Spain's La Liga, in the summer of 2022. After making his debut with the B team that October, he quickly grew into a key player for the side.
Although he gained experience with the Girona B team competing in Spain's fifth division, breaking into the first team proved difficult. He struggled to earn playing time because of La Liga's restrictions on registering non-EU players.
The turning point came in 2024. That August, Kim extended his contract with Girona through 2027. After a string of injuries to first-choice players, he made his La Liga debut in October as a substitute in a home match against Real Sociedad in Round 10 of the 2024-2025 season.
Even so, his playing time remained limited afterward. Kim appeared in three La Liga matches, two Copa del Rey matches and one UEFA Champions League match that season before being loaned to Andorra of La Liga 2 last July.
He raised his profile at Andorra. Kim played 40 La Liga 2 matches last season, recording six goals and four assists to prove his competitiveness on the European stage.
This season, he had returned to Girona, relegated to the second division, and was preparing for his comeback in Spain.
