Rangers Spend More Than Any Summer Since Advocaat’s 1999 Era — But Results Don’t Match

They’ve spent more in one summer than at any point since 1999 — but fans aren’t celebrating. Rangers Football Club unleashed a £23.7 million spending spree in August 2025, shattering the previous single-window record set under Dick Advocaat over two decades ago. The twist? The team looks more disjointed than ever. On the pitch, they’re not playing like the disciplined, organized side Advocaat built. And that’s the real problem.

Spending Like It’s 1999 — But Without the Results

Not since Dick Advocaat led Rangers Football Club to the 1999 Scottish Premier League title have they poured this much into a single transfer window. Back then, Advocaat’s spending — though never officially quantified — was seen as bold, even reckless, for a club still recovering from financial instability. But he turned it into structure: a backline that barely conceded, midfielders who covered ground like clockwork, and forwards who clicked with surgical precision.

This summer? The club’s new owners, under pressure to deliver European qualification, went all-in. A £9.2 million signing from Ligue 1. A £7.5 million midfielder from Serie A. A £5.1 million striker who’s yet to start a match. And a £1.9 million youth prospect with a €10 million release clause. Total: £23.7 million. No other summer since 1999 comes close. Not even the £18 million Giovanni van Bronckhorst spent in 2022 — the previous benchmark — comes close. But here’s the thing: van Bronckhorst’s team reached the Europa League final. This year’s squad? They’ve lost two of their first three league games.

Van Bronckhorst’s Legacy — And Why It Still Matters

When Giovanni van Bronckhorst took over in November 2021, he inherited chaos. Rangers had just missed out on the title. The squad was aging. He didn’t just spend — he rebuilt. He brought in players like Connor Goldson and Joe Aribo on smart deals, and his £18 million window in summer 2022 — which included Joe Worrall and Levante’s Amadou Haidara — was the most expensive in club history at the time. And it paid off. Rangers reached the Europa League final in Seville. They didn’t win, but they played with grit, tactical discipline, and a clear identity.

Now? That identity is gone. The new signings haven’t gelled. The midfield looks sluggish. The full-backs are caught out constantly. Fans are asking: Where’s the structure? Where’s the cohesion? It’s not about the money anymore. It’s about how it’s used. Van Bronckhorst knew how to integrate. This new regime? They just bought.

Advocaat’s Shadow — And the Ghosts of 1999

Advocaat didn’t just spend. He transformed. He signed Neil Lennon and Jörg Albertz, players who weren’t flashy but were intelligent, hard-working, and perfectly suited to his system. He didn’t chase stars. He chased fit. And he won the league by eight points. His squad had a spine — a defensive unit that rarely broke, a midfield that dictated tempo, and forwards who knew when to run.

Today’s Rangers? They’ve got seven new players. Five of them are under 25. The average age of the starting XI is 23.6. That’s not youth. That’s inexperience. And it shows. They’re winning duels but losing games. They’re pressing high but leaving space behind. They’re spending like Advocaat — but playing like a team still learning how to walk.

What’s Next? The Clock Is Ticking

The Scottish Premiership is no longer a formality. Celtic are stronger than ever. Hearts and Aberdeen are closing the gap. Rangers need to be in Europe next season — not just for prestige, but for revenue. The window is closing. The next three games — against Aberdeen, St Mirren, and Hibernian — will define whether this spending spree was genius or folly.

There’s no sign yet that the board is listening. No reports of tactical reviews. No word from the manager about changing formation. And no apology from the transfer committee for overpaying for players who haven’t yet started a match. The money’s been spent. Now, the results have to follow.

Why This Isn’t Just About Football

This isn’t just a case of bad transfers. It’s a cultural issue. For years, Rangers have operated under the assumption that spending more equals winning more. But football doesn’t work like that. Look at Manchester City: they didn’t become champions by buying the most expensive players. They bought the right ones — and developed them. Look at Ajax, or even Feyenoord. Smart recruitment. Tactical clarity. Team cohesion.

Rangers have the resources. They have the fanbase. They have the history. But they’re missing the blueprint. And without it, even £23.7 million won’t bring back the glory days.