Vaclav Cerny: Position, transfer fee, style of play, stats & more

Czech winger Vaclav Cerny has joined Rangers on a season-long loan from Wolfsburg in a move which should excite Gers fans.

Philippe Clement made a huge impact at Ibrox last season, putting together a run of form which saw Rangers challenge for the Scottish Premiership title despite being ruled out by most at the time of his arrival. 

The Belgian manager will be keen to go one step further this time around and regain the title from bitter rivals Celtic and he has wasted no time in strengthening his squad ahead of the campaign, adding Hamza Igamane, Jefte, Clinton Nsiala, Liam Kelly, Connor Barron, and Oscar Cortes to the Gers’ ranks already. 

However, their biggest coup could be imminent as exciting Czech winger Cerny could be about to sign on loan from Wolfsburg. The former FC Twente man was once touted as a wonderkid and he will be looking to reignite his career following a disappointing first Bundesliga season. 

That could spell good news for Rangers as a motivated and talented winger capable of changing games single-handedly could be exactly what they need to land the Scottish Premiership title. 

Here is everything you need to know about new Rangers signing Cerny.

Vaclav Cerny age, nationality & background

Cerny is 26 years old having been born on the 17th October 1997 in Pribram, a town in the Central Bohemian Region of Czechia.

His father, also named Vaclav, is the head coach of FK Pribram, the side with which Cerny spent his youth career before heading to the Netherlands. 

Touted as one to watch from an early age, the winger represented Czechia at various youth levels and became the youngest-ever player for the nation’s under-21 side when making his first appearance as a 17-year-old in 2015.

Vaclav Cerny transfer fee and contract

Rangers have agreed to sign Cerny on a season-long loan from Wolfsburg.

The Bundesliga side paid £8million for Cerny in 2023, so it is likely they will look to recoup most of that fee should Rangers seek a permanent transfer down the line.

What to expect from Vaclav Cerny

Height and build

Cerny is 5ft 10ins, which is relatively tall for a winger, but he is still agile and has a good turn of pace. 

Preferred foot

Usually deployed on the right, Cerny likes to cut inside and use his stronger left foot to whip in crosses or curl shots towards the far post. 

Style of play

Cerny is your typical winger, full of speed and skills and capable of moments of magic that can change the outcome of games. 

His former boss Niko Kovac described him as a left-footed player with speed and skills, highlighting the Czech winger’s tendency to cut inside and utilise his stronger foot. 

While his talents lie further forward, he is not averse to digging in and helping his team out defensively. He averaged 0.78 interceptions and 1.27 blocks per game in the Bundesliga for Wolfsburg last term, numbers which are on the higher side for wingers. 

Stats 

Vaclav Cerny 2023/24 Bundesliga stats

Appearances	22
Minutes	921
Goals	4
Assists	1
Shots	20
Shots on target	5

(Stats source: FBref.com)

Similar players to Vaclav Cerny

• Miguel Almiron (Newcastle United)
• Callum Hudson-Odoi (Nottingham Forest)
• Leandro Trossard (Arsenal)

(Source: FBref.com based on similar statistical profiles across Top 5 Leagues in past year)

Career so far

Previous clubs

Cerny started his professional career with Ajax in 2015 but could not nail down a regular spot in their first team, so regularly lined up for the Amsterdam side’s reserve team, Jong Ajax, during his time at the club.

He scored once in 16 Eredivisie games for the first team and 31 times in 69 Eredivisie II matches for the reserves before moving to Utrecht in 2019.

Cerny failed to impress with the Cupfighters though, netting zero goals in 16 matches before heading to FC Twente on loan where he scored six times in 17 matches in the 2020-21 season.

He signed for Twente permanently in 2021, reigniting his career after losing his wonderkid tag by netting 16 times in 61 games for the Tukkers and ultimately earning a move to Wolfsburg.

International caps

After starring for the youth sides, Cerny made his full Czech Republic debut in 2020 and has scored a respectable six goals in 17 matches for the national team since.

However, he is far from a regular for Ivan Hasek’s side and he featured just once at Euro 2024, starting against Georgia but being substituted after just 55 minutes.

What he could bring to Rangers

As aforementioned, Cerny is a tricky winger with plenty of pace and that could be seen to great effect in the Scottish Premiership, a league with far less defensive talent than the Bundesliga.

His left foot can be dangerous when he is on form, as shown by his strong scoring record for FC Twente and Czechia, and it would be no surprise to see him net a few for Rangers.

His arrival may be a timely one too as Gers winger Todd Cantwell has just handed in a transfer request, making Cerny the ideal replacement for the outgoing Englishman.