Title: Rangers Must Regret Letting This “Incredible” Talent Slip – Now Worth Far More Than Chermiti
For a club like Rangers, who pride themselves on developing talent and remaining financially competitive in the transfer market, letting a future star slip through the net is always a bitter pill to swallow. But in recent years, few decisions have likely stung more than the departure of a young, supremely talented player who has since gone on to thrive elsewhere and is now worth significantly more than recent Ibrox arrival Luís Semedo Chermiti.
While Rangers fans have been hopeful about Chermiti’s potential since his move from Sporting CP, it’s impossible to ignore the comparison between him and the “incredible” talent they lost – none other than Billy Gilmour.
Gilmour, once hailed as the crown jewel of Rangers’ youth setup, left the club in 2017 at just 15 years old to join Chelsea in a move that generated controversy and regret in equal measure. At the time, Rangers received a relatively modest compensation fee—reportedly in the region of £500,000—for the precocious midfielder. Fast-forward to today, and Gilmour is not only an established Premier League player but a full Scotland international who is now valued at upwards of £20 million.
This astronomical rise in value not only dwarfs the fee Rangers received for him but also outstrips the value of Chermiti, who arrived in Glasgow with a reported price tag of around £2 million. Though Chermiti has clear potential and may yet become a success at Ibrox, Gilmour is already fulfilling the promise that many at Rangers once believed he would realise in blue.
What makes the situation more frustrating for Rangers supporters is that Gilmour is not just surviving in the Premier League—he’s thriving. His performances for Brighton & Hove Albion have earned widespread praise from pundits and fans alike. Technically gifted, composed under pressure, and possessing a footballing intelligence beyond his years, Gilmour has become a key figure in Brighton’s midfield. His control of tempo and vision in the centre of the park have led many to label him an “incredible” talent — and rightly so.
It’s the kind of midfield control Rangers have been crying out for in recent seasons. While players like Ryan Jack and Glen Kamara have performed admirably, none possess the same composure and passing range as Gilmour. Watching him dictate play in one of the most competitive leagues in the world only adds to the frustration over his early exit.
Of course, Rangers are not the only club to lose top young talent before they blossom into stars. The lure of the Premier League and the financial muscle of English clubs make it difficult for Scottish sides to hold onto their best prospects, especially at academy level. Still, the Gilmour case stands out because he was so clearly destined for greatness — and Rangers knew it.
Luís Semedo Chermiti, while showing flashes of potential, is still unproven at senior level. The Portuguese striker is raw and will need time to adapt to the physicality and tempo of Scottish football. He could yet be a success story, but his trajectory is far from assured. In contrast, Gilmour’s path to the top seems almost inevitable in hindsight — and the fact that Rangers didn’t get to benefit from that rise feels like a missed opportunity of monumental proportions.
The financial comparison is stark. A player like Gilmour, now commanding a valuation north of £20 million, could have provided Rangers with a massive transfer windfall had they retained him longer. That kind of money could fund multiple signings, infrastructure upgrades, or youth development enhancements. Instead, the club received a fraction of his current worth.
In football, hindsight is always 20/20, but Rangers must surely rue losing an “incredible” talent like Billy Gilmour — a player who could have been the heartbeat of their midfield for years to come and now stands as a symbol of what might have been.
