Robin Propper back in Dutch press as outlet discloses how much Rangers paid for defender
Yesterday at 07:30 AM
When Rangers signed Robin Propper in the summer it caused something of a rift at Eredivisie club FC Twente.
The Dutch centre-back, 31, had just captained Twente to a Champions League qualification place and was viewed as a crucial part of what the Tukkers were trying to build.
Rangers were also able to take advantage of a clause in Propper's contract which allowed the club to sign the defender on a cut-price fee.
It led to big frustrations in the FC Twente ranks and criticisms of sporting director Arnold Bruggink with one Dutch outlet now revealing the price Rangers really paid for Robin Propper this summer.
Rangers activated Robin Propper contract clause
Rangers signed Robin Propper in the summer following the exit of commander and chief Connor Goldson to Aris Limassol.
Propper himself said at the time that the decision to move was a 'weird' one after agreeing a clause in his Twente contract that would allow him to move abroad on the cheap.
Rangers are Propper's first foray out of the Netherlands and at the 31-year-old's age, probably the defender's last chance to make his name outside of Holland.
"The year before, there were already some chances to leave, but Twente did not want to lose me," Propper told Tubantia.
"That was also Twente's right. I did state at the time that, if I were to re-sign, there had to be a certain clause in my contract.
"That gave me the feeling that I still had my career in my own hands and had not completely cornered myself."
Arnold Bruggink described the move as 'crazy' and expanded on the clause which allowed Propper to move abroad and leave Twente in the lurch.
"Last year we stopped Robin from going to a top foreign club," Bruggink told Tubantia.
"We then discussed the possible what-if situations that could arise next time. Then you sit down together and make agreements.
"If a club comes before midnight on July 31st that wants to pay the set amount, then he can go. And he has now taken advantage of that. That's the way it is."
How much did Rangers pay for Robin Propper?
The situation surrounding Robin Propper's move to Rangers is back in the Dutch press after FC Twente forward Sem Steijn signed a new contract.
Talented forward Steijn, 23, is one of the hottest young properties in Dutch football and has an impressive return of 15 goals in 17 Eredivisie games this season.
As a result, Arnold Bruggink has agreed a new contract with Steijn in Holland until 2028 but the deal has been shrouded in rumours about a potential transfer clause a la Robin Propper.
Bruggink has since explained to Tubantia that the new contract includes no clause such as the one that freed up Rangers to move for the Dutch defender.
But the situation has once again had plenty asking the question of how much Rangers paid to bring Robin Propper to Ibrox.
Whilst Rangers and Bruggink were careful never to release the full details of the transfer, there has been plenty of speculation.
In Scotland, the Rangers Review have claimed the Ibrox side paid around £1.5m for Robin Propper but in the Netherlands they paint a very different picture.
Dutch outlet Twente Insite are claiming that Rangers actually paid €3.2m to sign Propper from FC Twente this summer, or around £2.7m.
