Mohamed Diomande is finally starting to show why Rangers invested heavily in him, with the midfielder’s recent performances under Danny Rohl drawing comparisons to former Ibrox favourite Joe Aribo.
The Ivorian midfielder endured a frustrating start to Rohl’s reign at Rangers, but his growing influence in recent weeks suggests the German head coach may have unlocked the best version of the 23-year-old.
Danny Rohl’s impact at Rangers
There is little doubt that Danny Rohl has transformed Rangers since replacing Russell Martin at Ibrox. After a disastrous start to the 2025/26 season, the Light Blues have surged up the Scottish Premiership table, winning 13 of their last 17 league matches and rediscovering their attacking edge.
Rohl’s coaching has revitalised several players who struggled under Martin, including Emmanuel Fernandez, Nicolas Raskin and Connor Barron, all of whom have become key figures in the German’s system.
Why Diomande struggled early under Rohl
Despite the overall improvement, Mohamed Diomande initially found life difficult following Rohl’s arrival. The midfielder was sent off against Braga in the Europa League and drew criticism for overplaying in possession, with his decision-making frustrating supporters and pundits alike.
In his first 13 appearances under Rohl, Diomande registered just one goal and one assist, failing to impose himself consistently in the final third despite his obvious technical ability.
Diomande’s turnaround in 2026
Since the turn of the year, however, Diomande’s performances have taken a noticeable step forward. The Rangers midfielder has produced one goal and two assists in nine appearances in 2026, already surpassing his attacking output from the early months of Rohl’s tenure.
Back-to-back assists against Kilmarnock and Queen’s Park have highlighted his growing confidence, movement between the lines and improved decision-making in advanced areas.
Joe Aribo comparisons emerge
Diomande’s resurgence has inevitably led to comparisons with Joe Aribo, one of Rangers’ most influential midfielders of recent years. During his time at Ibrox, Aribo combined energy, creativity and end product, scoring 26 goals and providing 25 assists in all competitions.
While Diomande has not yet reached those levels, his 11 goal contributions in the 2024/25 Premiership season showed he possesses similar qualities. Under Rohl, he now appears to be rediscovering that form and influence.
What this means for Rangers
If Diomande continues on this trajectory, Rangers could have a dynamic midfield weapon capable of impacting big matches in both domestic and European competitions. Rohl’s patience may yet be rewarded, with the Ivorian showing signs of becoming his own version of the Joe Aribo profile that once thrived at Ibrox.
Thiago Nuno is a football editor and analyst covering European leagues, match statistics, and transfer market trends.
