Danny Rohl reveals congratulatory messages from Germany as new Rangers signing compared to £65m man

Rangers head coach Danny Rohl believes new striker Ryan Naderi has what it takes to thrive at Ibrox, revealing that the club received widespread praise from Germany following the forward’s deadline-day arrival.
The 22-year-old joined Rangers from Hansa Rostock in a deal that attracted major attention in his homeland, becoming the most expensive transfer in the history of Germany’s 3.Liga. Rangers paid an initial £4.75 million for Naderi, with the total fee potentially rising beyond £5 million through add-ons. He arrives in Glasgow after an impressive first half of the season, having scored eight goals and registered five assists in 18 appearances.
Rohl is confident Naderi can adapt to the demands of playing for Rangers and pointed to comparisons made in Germany with former international striker Fredi Bobic and current Newcastle United forward Nick Woltemade.
“He is a very intelligent player, and now it’s about giving him the right environment,” Rohl explained. “Compared to October, the difference is that the group is now growing together and supporting each other. Back then, confidence was low and a lot of players were struggling.
“Now we see players helping one another and moving in the right direction, which is why we believe he will be a big help. I spoke to coaches in Germany and received many messages congratulating us on a strong signing. Some even compared him to players like Fredi Bobic and Nick Woltemade. If he reaches that level here, we’ll enjoy watching him.”
Bobic earned 37 caps for Germany and was part of the country’s Euro 1996 triumph, while Woltemade joined Newcastle last summer in a deal reportedly worth £65 million, plus add-ons.
Naderi could make his Rangers debut against Kilmarnock at Ibrox on Wednesday night, as the third-placed side aim to maintain pressure on Celtic and league leaders Hearts.
Rohl also highlighted Naderi’s match sharpness as a major positive. “He’s been playing regularly and logging big minutes, which is always important in January,” he said. “Some players need a few weeks to get up to speed, but he played 90 minutes at the weekend and has been scoring. That gives us the chance to use him straight away.
“When I spoke to him, I could feel his hunger. Hansa Rostock play in front of 25,000 to 30,000 passionate fans, so that experience prepares him well for Ibrox. He has high potential, and now it’s about finding the right attacking balance—sometimes with one striker, sometimes with two.”
Naderi was Rangers’ fourth and final signing of the January transfer window, following the arrivals of Andreas Skov Olsen, Tochi Chukwuani and Tuur Rommens. The club also trimmed its squad, with Joe Rothwell and Kieron Dowell leaving permanently, while Lyall Cameron, Findlay Curtis and Clinton Nsiala departed on loan.
Reflecting on the window, Rohl expressed satisfaction with the club’s overall approach. “I’m very positive when I look back at this window—not just the players we brought in, but how we managed the departures,” he said. “We reduced the squad size but increased its quality.”
Rohl did acknowledge that Rangers were unable to add another midfielder after being priced out of a move for Tromsø’s Jens Hjertø-Dahl, but remains confident in the group available to him.
“Sometimes it comes down to timing,” he added. “But we believe in this squad going forward. It’s also important that we signed players permanently, not just on loan. That shows we’re building with the long term in mind.”