Rangers could be in line to benefit financially after Chelsea’s 1-0 Champions League victory over Manchester City last night saw the Blues crowned champions of Europe – with former Ibrox wonderkid Billy Gilmour on the bench for Thomas Tuchel’s side.
Gilmour left Ibrox in 2017 to join Chelsea after being courted by some of the biggest clubs in world football, with the youngster going on to become a regular part of Chelsea’s first-team squad and winning a place in Scotland’s Euro 2020 squad.
Kai Havertz scored the only goal of the game to seal Chelsea’s second Champions League victory in Porto and add Gilmour to the list of Scots who have lifted the famous trophy.
While the former Rangers kid didn’t get off the bench in the final, he did make a couple of appearances this season in the competition and was a regular in the squad under Tuchel and his predecessor Frank Lampard.
How Rangers could benefit
When Gilmour left Ibrox in 2017 to sign for then-Chelsea boss Antonio Conte before he’d even played a first-team game for Rangers, the Light Blues pocketed £500,000 with the potential for “further significant amounts” depending on certain “milestones being reached.”
Although there aren’t any specifics available regarding the additional payments, success in competitions like the Premier League or Champions League could trigger them.
Gilmour’s inclusion in the Scotland squad – and specifically his first appearance for the senior side – could also send a “significant” amount Rangers’ way this summer.
While it isn’t going to be the sort of money that can bring new faces into Ibrox this summer, it will be a nice little boost for a player who ultimately never played a meaningful game for Rangers.
Hopefully, there is still a bit more to come from it too and Rangers can earn another small windfall by doing absolutely nothing.
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