Alex Kpakpe confirms transfer to Rangers on Twitter, sends message to Chelsea after exit
New Rangers academy signing Alex Kpakpe took to Twitter to send a message to the fans announcing his move to Ibrox and also to Chelsea following his departure from the club in November.
The 18-year-old defender finally joined up with the Gers after reports first linked him with a move to Glasgow following his release from Stamford Bridge back in November.
Kpakpe has signed a contract until the summer and will be hoping for a new lease of life at Ibrox after struggling to break into the Chelsea setup following numerous injuries and illness.
The defender took to Twitter [11 January] to still express his appreciation and gratitude for all the opportunities they provided him for five years at Stamford Bridge.
He tweeted: “I’m finally happy to announce my signing at this huge club Rangers FC.
“First and foremost I would like to say a massive thank you to Chelsea for the past five years, from going grassroots to an academy this club have given me a lot of memories I will never forget. It’s been [a] pleasure.”
Big opportunity
This move is a big opportunity for Kpakpe to impress his new academy staff, after his struggles with the Chelsea academy.
The Stamford Bridge youth setup is a difficult one to navigate with a whole host of talent emerging from there but not being given the deserved opportunity in the first team, but rather being shipped out elsewhere to continue their development.
Kpakpe is indeed another victim of that but must be ready to grab this new opportunity with both hands.
The Gers academy will provide him with the ideal platform and room to grow, and these next six months could be crucial in shaping the rest of his young career.
Credit though must be given to Rangers for providing youth with opportunities, and that can indeed be seen by their philosophy in providing them with the resources and pathway to first-team opportunities.
The ideal example is 18-year-old Leon King who is now earmarked as one of the biggest youth talents to come out of the club youth setup. Kpakpe must use that example as motivation to impress the club as he aims to make a name for himself, following his Chelsea disappointment.
In other Rangers news, a new contract is now on the cards for a key player Beale wants to build his team around.