Boumsong remains a favourite of Raymond Domenech despite enduring a desperately poor season with Newcastle United. The Premiership side paid Rangers £8million to secure the 26-year-old's services in January 2005 but he has struggled to adapt to life in England. Boumsong signed a five-year contract with the Gers in June 2004 after moving from Auxerre on a free transfer but he spent only six months at Ibrox, making 18 SPL appearances for the club. Originally from Cameroon, Boumsong was once thought to be France's long-term replacement for Marcel Desailly.