Dessers’ transfer dilemma: To become a Greek god, or return to Feyenoord?

Soccer

Super Eagles and Rangers forward, Cyriel Kolawole Dessers, seems poised for a move away from Scotland this summer, amidst interest from Greece, Soccernet.ng reports.

The 30-year-old recently signed a long-term deal with his partner, Rosalie Deruysscher, marrying her in Italy after winning the Unity Cup with the Nigerian National Team at the Gtech Community Stadium in Brentford.

Greek side, AEK Athens, have submitted an official offer to Rangers after they’ve made their interest in Dessers known.

As reported earlier by Soccernet.ng, the former Cremonese striker had agreed a £30,000-a-week deal with the 13-time Greek Champions, with only an agreement with Rangers left in the works.

Dessers celebrates against Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce after opening the scoring for Rangers in the UEFA Europa League. [Photo Credit/ X].

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Cyriel Dessers is celebrating his goal for Rangers against Fenerbahce in the UEFA Europa League round of sixteen. [Photo Credit/ X].

As per Sport 247, two-time UEFA Europa League winners, Feyenoord, have also joined AEK Athens in registering interest in Dessers, in what appears to be an 11th-hour attempt.

It is worth noting that the Belgium-born Nigerian forward has a spell at The Club of the People in the 2021/2022 season, on loan from KRC Genk.

Dessers scored 20 goals and provided three assists in 41 games with Feyenoord, helping them to the UEFA Conference League final, which they lost against Jose Mourinho’s Roma. He moved to Cremonese the following season.

Feyenoord are on the lookout for forward reinforcements this summer and have seen a bumper bid kicked out for former Celtic striker, Oh Hyeon-gyu. They now have eyes fixed on a move for Nigeria’s Unity Cup hero.

Cyriel Dessers and coach Arne Slot during the Dutch Eredivisie match between Feyenoord and sc Heerenveen at Feyenoord Stadium De Kuip. [Photo Credit/ Imago].

Soccer Holland over Greece?

Dessers’ has a special bond with the Dutch league. His only 40-goal contribution season came in the 2016/2017 season with NAC Breda where he scored 29 goals and provided 11 assists in 40 appearances across all competitions.

Although he moved on to FC Utrecht and then onto Heracles later, his time in the Eredivisie saw him acclimatise himself to the league’s nature before the move to return to Feyenoord came two years later.

He’s enjoyed a decent goalscoring record at Rangers, scoring 51 goals and providing 16 assists in 109 appearances for the Gers across two seasons, but still holds fond memories of his time in Holland, specifically Feyenoord.

“There is a raw edge to each of these three clubs – Rangers, Feyenoord and NAC Breda.

“That is something I like. Some like a fashionable or stately club, I like clubs where it is very pure and passionate. That is really reflected in these three clubs.

“I also know if you don’t perform, it’s extra tough, but when it goes well, they are the most beautiful clubs in the world.

“So I am lucky that I have been able to play for three of those clubs that are also truly exceptional in that respect.

“At Rangers, Feyenoord and NAC Breda, my friends and family who come to visit all say: ‘wow, this was not normal and I didn’t expect it’. I think that is something very special and I am proud of it,” the SPFL Golden Boot winner said, as previously reported by Soccernet.ng.

Cyriel Dessers protests after a tackle during the Unity Cup London 2025 match between Ghana and Nigeria at Gtech Community Stadium, Brentford, England, on 28 May 2025. [Photo Credit/ Imago].

While AEK Athens are well known for making their players loved, a factor that’ll appeal to Dessers, considering how he’s been treated at Rangers for the past two years, a return to his second home [The Netherlands], could have the bigger emotional pull

At 30, there is no denying that the financial package also plays an important role in the striker’s decisions, and with £30,000-a-week on the table, the Greek side might have the upper hand, although it is currently unknown what Feyenoord are offering the ex-Genk man at the moment.

Van De Perre Kamiel, midfielder of Royale Union Saint-Gilloise, and Cyriel Dessers, forward of Rangers FC, in action during the UEFA Europa League 2024/25 League Phase MD8. [Photo Credit/ Imago].

Both these teams have won their domestic leagues at least once in the past five years, and still have relative success.

Ultimately, it’ll be a decision between the heart and the head for Dessers as he deliberates on his future. In the end, the hunger for a new adventure might be the icing on the cake, as he’s never played in Greece.

Soccer Adefolahan Guerreiro


Adefolahan Guerreiro

Adefolahan is a multilingual journalist and writer at Soccernet Nigeria.

With a track record of involvement in College sports, Adefolahan is focused on crafting engaging football content and utilising his language skills and extensive sports knowledge to enhance content accessibility for a global audience.

He has interviewed Nigerian stars like Finidi George, Junior Lokosa, and Abraham Onahi Ogbu.

Read MoreAdefolahan Guerreiro

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