Thomas leaves QPR and Hamalainen is shipped out again


QPR have released George Thomas, while Niko Hamalainen has completed a pre-deadline loan move to Belgian second-tier side Racing White Daring Molenbeek.

West London Sport revealed on Tuesday morning that Thomas would be released if another club did not come in for him in the final hours of the transfer window and that Hamalainen was heading to Belgium, and later revealed that the Finland international was joining RWD.

As the deadline approached, Rangers announced that the remainder of Thomas’ contract – which was due to expire this summer – had been terminated by mutual consent.


Hamalainen’s loan move is his sixth since he was signed in 2016. He has previously been at Dagenham & Redbridge, Kilmarnock, Los Angeles FC, Los Angeles Galaxy and Brazilian outfit Botafogo.

QPR have been keen to add to the squad in the final stages of the transfer window, and were still trying on Tuesday night as the deadline approached, but have been restricted by financial constraints and having five players on loan – a maximum of five are permitted in a matchday squad.

Their fifth loan signing of the season, Jamal Lowe, arrived from Bournemouth earlier this month.

West London Sport had revealed that Lowe was QPR’s main January target and that the club would not be able to terminate Tyler Roberts’ season-long loan from Leeds.