Sometimes, first impressions can be deceiving, but not in the case of Tuur Rommens.
The 22-year-old left-back has barely dropped the levels he showed on debut after coming off the bench against Kilmarnock. Strong in the tackle, quick to cover ground, and direct in his actions, but, crucially, composed enough to pick out team-mates in the box when reaching the final third.
It’s no coincidence that Mikey Moore’s best run of form at Ibrox has coincided with Rommens’ introduction to the team. Jayden Meghoma, first choice at left-back during the first half of the season, competed well for a 19-year-old loanee, but no one could argue that Rommens hasn’t provided a clear upgrade.
The January window sought to address two key issues for Danny Rohl: he wanted his starting 11 to become more physically imposing and to recruit players capable of enabling his favoured 4-2-2-2 system. Ryan Naderi, although yet to score in the league, plays as the second striker, while Tochi Chukwuani offers a different midfield profile. Ironically, it’s only Andreas Skov Olsen, the marquee arrival, who’s yet to nail down his role on the right wing. Rommens, without doubt, has been the most impressive addition.
He’s also forging a strong understanding with Moore. In a season lacking consistent personnel and patterns on the ball, that dynamic has become more potent by the week. Rommens’ direct running down the wing, highlighted by his Scottish Premiership heatmap to date, allows Moore to shift into his favoured left half-space, often unmarked as a result of the full-back’s surging runs.
Two stats sum up the Belgian’s well-rounded profile. In a small sample of just under 500 minutes, Rommens boasts the second-best aerial duel win percentage among full-backs ( 70 %) and the second-best xG assisted total (the direct quality of chances created for teammates) of any player in the division in open play ( 0.29 ).
Rohl’s 4-2-2-2 is designed to overload the centre, with Moore, and whoever plays on the right, drifting infield. Rommens is providing valuable width and aggressive running power to unlock defences - providing a direct threat out wide that in turn, increases space centrally.
And, he's helping Rangers to overload the last line, that is, to outnumber the opposition’s defenders in a particular area of the pitch. This has been the defining attacking feature of Rangers’ play since January.
Let’s look at a few examples of how Rommens has helped Rangers add a new dimension to their attack, beginning with the opening goal in Saturday’s 4-1 win over Aberdeen.
Notice first in the frames below that Nico Raskin has dropped to form a back three, preventing Aberdeen’s front two from pressing effectively and freeing Rommens to push forward from left-back, allowing Moore to tuck infield.
The reverse angle illustrates exactly how Rohl wants his team to attack. By ‘missing out’ the midfield, Rangers have overloaded the Aberdeen defence, with more players advancing beyond the visitors’ midfield line. The result is effectively a six-vs-five in the final third.
From there, Rommens uses his strength and speed to beat his man to the byline. His composure then shows, cutting the ball back away from the crowd of red shirts to the unmarked Moore.
Although Moore’s effort is saved, Chukwuani converts the rebound from the edge of the box. Note again how the attack shifts Aberdeen’s defensive shape, the key aim when unsettling a low block, with Rommens’ well-timed run central to it.
Tochi Chukwuani finishes from just outside the box for the opening goal! 👏@RangersFC lead against Aberdeen 🔵
𝑃𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑏𝑦 @sbk | 18+ | 𝑃𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑒 𝐺𝑎𝑚𝑏𝑙𝑒 𝑅𝑒𝑠𝑝𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑏𝑙𝑦 pic.twitter.com/agRl57gEEd— Premier Sports (@PremSportsTV) March 21, 2026
A similar pattern appeared in the equalising goal against Hearts in February’s 4-2 win. After regaining possession in transition, Rohl’s team again forms a situational back three, this time with Dujon Sterling holding deeper, which allows a midfielder and the opposite full-back to push higher. Rommens plays a one-two with the narrow Moore, providing crucial width and running power on the flank.
Two details stand out. First, Moore’s constant ability to appear free for a pass stems from his rotations with Rommens, sometimes it’s the left-back who drifts inside instead. This movement ensures that Moore can either drag his marker centrally to open space wide, collect the ball free between the lines, or, as below, operate between defenders left caught in two minds.
With Hearts pulled toward the ball at the front post, Rommens once again picks his cross intelligently to create a high-value chance rather than simply delivering into traffic.
Rommens’ blend of power and poise was also central to the sequence before Youssef Chermiti’s overhead kick in the 2-2 draw against Celtic at Ibrox. After a long ball forward, notice the same back-three setup as Rommens joins the front four to match Celtic’s defensive numbers, a five-against-five. Moore again enjoys positional freedom.
After contesting the first header, Celtic regain the ball momentarily until Rommens retrieves it, head up, before cutting it back to the free Moore.
While he doesn’t register the assist, Rommens’ presence at the back post contributes to the space Chermiti exploits to finish unchallenged.
And the chance that could’ve made it 3-0 on the day followed the same pattern, Moore drifting centrally, Rommens maintaining width, and Rangers overloading the last line.
A similar move did produce a goal in the recent 1-0 win over St Mirren. Again, note the number of blue shirts in the box, the fluid rotations of the front four, and Rommens offering width and drive on the outside.
Consider the timing of all these actions, too: All four goals above have been Rangers' first in each respective game. Rommens is also doing the business at the game's most important junctures.
Rommens has done exactly what a January signing should do in a title race: make an immediate impact.
Issame Charai’s prediction that Rangers fans would “love” the former Westerlo defender has quickly come true. Competing for every ball and never shirking a challenge has been his baseline.
Since winning his place in the team, after that Kilmarnock game, Rangers' goals/90 are comfortably the best in the league ( 2.71 to the closest challanger Celtic's 1.86 ). Before, their total was fourth in the league ( 1.61 ). A defender on paper? Maybe, but it is Rommens' attacking drive and instincts that have really made an impact.
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