Kosta Nedeljković to Rangers
Verdict Delivered
This deal HAPPENED. Kosta Nedeljković completed the move, which we were tracking at 95% when it went through.
| Move | Villa → Rangers |
| Outcome | Completed |
| Rated at the end | 95% |
| Resolved | August 19th |
Sky Sports News's Sahil Jaidka reported at 6.57am UK time on August 18th that Nedeljković is undergoing his medical ahead of the move to Ibrox, with final terms being wrapped up on the season-long loan and its £4m appearance-triggered obligation to buy; Rangers remain in pole position over other interested clubs. Only Rangers' announcement completes the move. Fabrizio Romano corroborated the deal at 2am UK time on August 18th: Rangers agree a deal to sign Nedeljković on loan with the £4m buy option becoming mandatory based on appearances, as Tanswell had reported the previous evening, with Romano adding that Villa keep working on the Aaron Wan-Bissaka deal alongside it. BirminghamLive carried the same structure that morning without a fresh figure. Nothing has moved beyond agreed: no medical or documents have been reported yet, and only a club announcement completes it. The structure is now attached to a figure. Jacob Tanswell reported for The Athletic at 5.07pm UK time on August 17th that Nedeljković is expected to join Rangers on an initial loan with a £4m obligation to buy, the clause dependent on appearances, with Rangers manager Derek McInnes having held talks with the 20-year-old directly and the Scottish club in contact throughout the summer. It is the first tier-one line to put a fee on a move Sky Sports News and TEAMtalk had described as early talks six days earlier. Sky Sports News reported on August 11th that Rangers are in ongoing talks with Villa over Nedeljkovic, with a season-long loan the structure under discussion. Derek McInnes would also take a permanent deal or a loan carrying an option to buy, though Villa need convincing to sanction either, and TEAMtalk describe the discussions as early with nothing agreed. Jacob Tanswell reported the same morning that a departure this window remains possible on loan or permanently. The 20-year-old's own position has moved the other way. He came back to Villa this summer after a year on loan at RB Leipzig, has impressed across pre-season, set up a goal against the Indonesia All Stars, and travelled with the squad to Salzburg for the Super Cup. Matty Cash is still ahead of him at right-back, which is the argument for a move that gives him the run of matches he has not had since leaving Red Star Belgrade. Rangers lost James Tavernier when his contract expired in the summer and have opened the Premiership without a win in three, so the vacancy at Ibrox is real. Villa paid Red Star around GBP 8m in January 2024 and still rate him for the long term.
This page is kept as part of our public track record — every rumor's final outcome stays published against the likelihood we gave it.
Related
How the Story Moved
| Date | What changed | |
|---|---|---|
| August 10th | Tracked | Rumor opened on the board at 11% (linked) — source: Daily Record and the Herald, relayed by BBC Sport. Rangers are looking at Nedeljković as they try to steady a season that has brought one point from their opening three league matches. The Daily Record reported on August 10th that the Ibrox club are exploring a deal for the 20-year-old, and the Herald framed it as a season-long loan rather than a permanent move. Nedeljković came back to Villa this summer after a year on loan at RB Leipzig and sits behind Matty Cash at right-back, so a loan would give him the run of matches he has not had since leaving Red Star Belgrade. No approach has been reported to Villa, and only the Scottish press are carrying it. |
| August 11th | Moved | Likelihood rose from 11% to 13% (linked). Rangers are among the clubs looking at Nedeljkovic, and Jacob Tanswell reported on August 11th that a departure this window remains possible either on loan or permanently. TEAMtalk have Derek McInnes weighing a season-long loan, a loan with an option to buy, or a straight cash purchase, with talks at an early stage and nothing agreed; the Scottish press had first carried the interest on August 10th, framing it around a poor start to the Premiership that included a 2-1 defeat at home to Hibernian. The 20-year-old's own position has moved the other way. He came back to Villa this summer after a year on loan at RB Leipzig, has impressed across pre-season, set up a goal against the Indonesia All Stars, and travelled with the squad to Salzburg for the Super Cup. Matty Cash is still ahead of him at right-back, which is the argument for a move that gives him the run of matches he has not had since leaving Red Star Belgrade. Villa paid Red Star around GBP 8m in January 2024 and still rate him for the long term. |
| August 11th | Moved | Likelihood rose from 13% to 50% (talks). Sky Sports News reported on August 11th that Rangers are in ongoing talks with Villa over Nedeljkovic, with a season-long loan the structure under discussion. Derek McInnes would also take a permanent deal or a loan carrying an option to buy, though Villa need convincing to sanction either, and TEAMtalk describe the discussions as early with nothing agreed. Jacob Tanswell reported the same morning that a departure this window remains possible on loan or permanently. The 20-year-old's own position has moved the other way. He came back to Villa this summer after a year on loan at RB Leipzig, has impressed across pre-season, set up a goal against the Indonesia All Stars, and travelled with the squad to Salzburg for the Super Cup. Matty Cash is still ahead of him at right-back, which is the argument for a move that gives him the run of matches he has not had since leaving Red Star Belgrade. Rangers lost James Tavernier when his contract expired in the summer and have opened the Premiership without a win in three, so the vacancy at Ibrox is real. Villa paid Red Star around GBP 8m in January 2024 and still rate him for the long term. |
| August 17th | Moved | Likelihood rose from 50% to 82% (agreed). The structure is now attached to a figure. Jacob Tanswell reported for The Athletic at 5.07pm UK time on August 17th that Nedeljković is expected to join Rangers on an initial loan with a £4m obligation to buy, the clause dependent on appearances, with Rangers manager Derek McInnes having held talks with the 20-year-old directly and the Scottish club in contact throughout the summer. It is the first tier-one line to put a fee on a move Sky Sports News and TEAMtalk had described as early talks six days earlier. Sky Sports News reported on August 11th that Rangers are in ongoing talks with Villa over Nedeljkovic, with a season-long loan the structure under discussion. Derek McInnes would also take a permanent deal or a loan carrying an option to buy, though Villa need convincing to sanction either, and TEAMtalk describe the discussions as early with nothing agreed. Jacob Tanswell reported the same morning that a departure this window remains possible on loan or permanently. The 20-year-old's own position has moved the other way. He came back to Villa this summer after a year on loan at RB Leipzig, has impressed across pre-season, set up a goal against the Indonesia All Stars, and travelled with the squad to Salzburg for the Super Cup. Matty Cash is still ahead of him at right-back, which is the argument for a move that gives him the run of matches he has not had since leaving Red Star Belgrade. Rangers lost James Tavernier when his contract expired in the summer and have opened the Premiership without a win in three, so the vacancy at Ibrox is real. Villa paid Red Star around GBP 8m in January 2024 and still rate him for the long term. |
| August 18th | Moved | Likelihood rose from 82% to 95% (medical). Sky Sports News's Sahil Jaidka reported at 6.57am UK time on August 18th that Nedeljković is undergoing his medical ahead of the move to Ibrox, with final terms being wrapped up on the season-long loan and its £4m appearance-triggered obligation to buy; Rangers remain in pole position over other interested clubs. Only Rangers' announcement completes the move. Fabrizio Romano corroborated the deal at 2am UK time on August 18th: Rangers agree a deal to sign Nedeljković on loan with the £4m buy option becoming mandatory based on appearances, as Tanswell had reported the previous evening, with Romano adding that Villa keep working on the Aaron Wan-Bissaka deal alongside it. BirminghamLive carried the same structure that morning without a fresh figure. Nothing has moved beyond agreed: no medical or documents have been reported yet, and only a club announcement completes it. The structure is now attached to a figure. Jacob Tanswell reported for The Athletic at 5.07pm UK time on August 17th that Nedeljković is expected to join Rangers on an initial loan with a £4m obligation to buy, the clause dependent on appearances, with Rangers manager Derek McInnes having held talks with the 20-year-old directly and the Scottish club in contact throughout the summer. It is the first tier-one line to put a fee on a move Sky Sports News and TEAMtalk had described as early talks six days earlier. Sky Sports News reported on August 11th that Rangers are in ongoing talks with Villa over Nedeljkovic, with a season-long loan the structure under discussion. Derek McInnes would also take a permanent deal or a loan carrying an option to buy, though Villa need convincing to sanction either, and TEAMtalk describe the discussions as early with nothing agreed. Jacob Tanswell reported the same morning that a departure this window remains possible on loan or permanently. The 20-year-old's own position has moved the other way. He came back to Villa this summer after a year on loan at RB Leipzig, has impressed across pre-season, set up a goal against the Indonesia All Stars, and travelled with the squad to Salzburg for the Super Cup. Matty Cash is still ahead of him at right-back, which is the argument for a move that gives him the run of matches he has not had since leaving Red Star Belgrade. Rangers lost James Tavernier when his contract expired in the summer and have opened the Premiership without a win in three, so the vacancy at Ibrox is real. Villa paid Red Star around GBP 8m in January 2024 and still rate him for the long term. |
| August 19th | Verdict | Deal DONE — completed after being tracked at 95% |
Timeline reflects our tracking history since the rumor joined the board, not every media mention. For everything Villa, live: the Verdict homepage.