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Dutch report reveals why Couhaib Driouech Rangers transfer collapsed

The Dutch report claims the medical was not the issue, with the proposed £7m move instead collapsing over a disagreement regarding the winger’s immediate availability.
Rangers FC v Jagiellonia Bialystok - UEFA Europa League 2026/27 Third Qualifying Round Second Leg
Rangers FC v Jagiellonia Bialystok - UEFA Europa League 2026/27 Third Qualifying Round Second Leg | Ian MacNicol/GettyImages

Couhaib Driouech's proposed move from PSV to Rangers has collapsed after a turbulent 48 hours, with a report in the Netherlands claiming the disagreement centred on when the winger would be available to play.

The £7 +million deal had appeared to be on the verge of completion earlier this week, with Driouech travelling to the UK and undergoing his Rangers medical.

The Moroccan winger subsequently passed those checks, with Rangers understood to have been satisfied with his long-term medical status.

He then travelled to Ibrox on Thursday night and watched Rangers' Europa League clash with Jagiellonia Bialystok from the stands.

Yet by Friday morning, the proposed transfer was off.

According to Dutch newspaper AD, the medical itself was not the problem.

The report states that Driouech was considered fit in the long-term following his examination in Manchester, but a disagreement subsequently developed between PSV, Rangers and the player over his immediate availability.

Rangers FC v Jagiellonia Bialystok - UEFA Europa League 2026/27 Third Qualifying Round Second Leg
Rangers FC v Jagiellonia Bialystok - UEFA Europa League 2026/27 Third Qualifying Round Second Leg | Craig Foy - SNS Group/GettyImages

Disagreement over Driouech's availability

The Dutch report claims PSV's position was that Driouech could play in the short term, while Rangers believed the winger would not be immediately available.

That issue appears to have become significant enough for Rangers to withdraw from the verbally agreed deal.

It adds another layer to a transfer which had appeared to be effectively complete.

Inside Ibrox reported on Thursday that Driouech was carrying a minor knock from his time with PSV, but crucially, the injury was known before his medical.

Rangers had been satisfied with his status following the medical, while Driouech was also expected to return to the Netherlands to say goodbye to PSV before completing his move to Scotland.

The winger had already agreed personal terms with Rangers.

Rangers FC v Jagiellonia Bialystok - UEFA Europa League 2026/27 Third Qualifying Round Second Leg
Rangers FC v Jagiellonia Bialystok - UEFA Europa League 2026/27 Third Qualifying Round Second Leg | Craig Williamson - SNS Group/GettyImages

Europa League exit adds to questions

The timing of the collapse will inevitably raise questions given what happened at Ibrox on Thursday night.

Driouech was present for Rangers' 1-1 draw with Jagiellonia, a result which saw Rangers eliminated from the Europa League after losing the first leg 2-1.

The club will now enter the Conference League rather than continuing in UEFA's second-tier competition.

Rangers' official position is that the European exit did not influence the decision to abandon the Driouech transfer.

However, the Dutch report's explanation of a disagreement over the player's immediate availability provides further context to the sudden change.

The report also claims that Rangers had agreed the deal with PSV before the final decision to cancel the transfer was ultimately taken at ownership level.

Couhaib Driouech
PSV Eindhoven v AZ Alkmaar - Johan Cruijff Shield | MTB/MB Media/GettyImages

Fourth PSV deal to collapse

Driouech's failed transfer is also another major outgoing deal to collapse for PSV.

The Dutch report notes that Ricardo Pepi, Armando Obispo and Adamo Nagalo have also seen proposed moves fall through in recent months.

Driouech had been expected to join Rangers for around €8 million (£7 million), but he will now return to Eindhoven with the transfer abandoned.

The Gers must now return to the market for attacking reinforcements after losing a player who had appeared destined to become one of Derek McInnes' major summer additions.

The precise circumstances behind the final disagreement remain significant, but the latest Dutch reporting makes clear that Driouech's medical itself was not deemed a failure, the dispute centred on his short-term availability.

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