(Credit: Imago)

Evan Shaw

Wed 1 April 2026 8:30, UK

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Rangers will be seeing pound signs after Emmanuel Fernandez scored on his full international debut for Nigeria on Tuesday night.

The 24-year-old made his first start for the Super Eagles in their 2-2 friendly draw with Jordan, and he got himself on the scoresheet in the 41st minute with a neat finish at the back post with his left foot.

The defender was called up for the first time for the March internationals and caught the eye with his performance in his team’s latest assignment.

Fernandez has been a revelation for the Gers since Danny Rohl’s arrival as manager, and he has quickly made the £3.5million that they paid to sign him from Peterborough United look like a bargain.

Rangers’ transfer plans are set to see them try and keep hold of all their key players this summer, but that could be easier said than done now that Fernandez has added another string to his bow.

Rangers to earn mega money from Emmanuel Fernandez

Football Insider revealed back in February that Rangers are extremely reluctant to sell Fernandez this summer, and would only consider it if they received a huge offer from a Premier League club.

The youngster’s reputation is growing with every passing game at Ibrox, and the fact that he has now announced himself on the international stage will only help to grow that further.

He has developed a knack for scoring goals for the Gers in recent months, as he already has five strikes to his name in the Scottish Premiership this season, and he continued his scoring form for Nigeria on Tuesday.

It would already take a huge offer by Premiership standards for Rangers to allow him to be prised away from them, and his international exploits are set to give them even more security over his future.

If Fernandez can become a regular for Nigeria, then it would allow Rohl and Co. to up their asking price for him even further, and ensure that they will make a substantial profit whenever he does move on.

Everyone at Ibrox will hope that the day for him to depart doesn’t come for many years, but they will also be licking their lips at the prospect of a mega-money deal when the moment eventually comes.

Fernandez unlikely to push for Rangers exit this summer

Player power is becoming an increasingly difficult battle for clubs to deal with at the moment, as there have been several examples of stars forcing through big moves in recent years.

However, Fernandez is unlikely to put Rangers in a difficult position this summer, due to the rapid development that he has enjoyed since moving north of the border.

The starlet is arguably already capable of making the jump to the Premier League, but there is little need for him to take that risk at the moment, especially since he could get Champions League football with his current club next season.

It surely makes more sense for Fernandez to stay put and continue to progress with Rangers, in order to ensure that he is ready to move to an elite club within the next few years, rather than accepting a middling Premier League switch.