TOCHI Chukwuani says he’s delighted to start a new chapter at Rangers after becoming the first addition of the January transfer window.
The 22-year-old midfielder joins the club from Austrian champions Sturm Graz and believes his experience in the game, where he has featured prominently in both the UEFA Champions League and Europa League, will stand him in good stead.
Speaking to RangersTV for the first time, the Dane couldn’t hide his eagerness to get going: “I’m super excited. I finally got the green light to come here. Rangers are a huge club and I can’t wait to hear the roar at Ibrox.
“It’s a historic club with a huge fanbase. There are huge expectations, and this is something as a footballer you want to play infront of.
“It gives motivation every weekend to go and give 100% and do what you can to put smiles on people’s faces.
“I knew it was the greatest club in Scotland. There have been a lot of huge players who have played here – Gascoigne, Laudrup and I can go on – and it’s a club that has a lot of history and comes with a lot of pressure. It’s fantastic.”
On his attributes as a player and the conversations he had with Rangers, Chukwuani continued: “I can do a little bit of everything in the midfield. I wouldn’t classify myself as a No.10, No.8 or No.6, but rather that I’m an all-round midfielder that can play in each of these three positions.
“I’m a strong, physical guy, very good on the ball, and I like to dictate play and also love tackling and regaining ball. I like to play forward football.
“It started in the summer, hearing some interest. It got intensified more during the winter period, and I was happy that it managed to go through.
“My first conversation [with Danny Röhl] was more about what the club was like and what I can expect. It was about the expectations coming in, the play style, how I’ll fit, and how we can hopefully win games each weekend.”
Crucially, the midfielder, despite only being 22, boasts significant European experience, featuring against Rangers in Europa League action just a few months ago.
Such is football that Chukwuani will pull on a Rangers jersey for the remainder of the campaign, where he is familiar with a couple of faces in the dressing room from his time at FC Nordsjælland.
He added: “We beat Rangers in the Europa League, but I could already feel from there how big the club is. When I spoke to [Oliver] Antman and [Mohamed] Diomande, who I played with, I could really understand what Rangers are all about.
“It’s always helpful knowing some people before you go into a new place. The lads are great and I’ve saw how the dynamic is.
“I’ve had a lot of appearances as a first-team player, as well as experiencing the Champions League and Europa League.
“That has built me as a player and helped complete me as a player in the midfield. It’s given me more experience, awareness and confidence on the pitch.
“I got to play in the Champions League at Sturm Graz, on the international stage, Europa League too, and I was in the team that won the title.
“It was during this time where I really learned what it takes to win a title. Each training, off the pitch, how you prepare yourself to give 100 per cent, so you’re ready for the weekend.
“I had a really great experience with Sturm Graz, especially playing the last game infront of the fans with the pressure and how it felt to play like this in a decisive game. I will try to take it here and hopefully we can replicate that.”
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