Rangers secure signature of ‘one of UK’s most sought after young talents’

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Glasgow Rangers have announced that Ibrox academy gem Leon King has officially signed his first professional contract with the Scottish Premiership club.

The 16-year-old defender is one of the most highly rated youngsters at Rangers, and indeed in the whole of Scotland.

Several sides south of the border, including Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United and Arsenal, were believed to be interested in King’s signature.

However, they have missed out as Rangers have now confirmed that King has committed his future to the Ibrox side with a contract until the summer of 2022.

King was part of the squad which won the Alkass International Cup and the Under-18s league title last season.

This term, he has featured for the Under-18s and Graeme Murty’s development squad, as well as making Rangers’ matchday squad for the Scottish Cup tie against Stranraer.

Rangers sporting director Ross Wilson told the Rangers website: “I am delighted we have an agreement with Leon King.

“Leon has been a priority for us and we are excited about his potential. He has been demonstrating that potential both for Rangers and Scotland and we are excited about his future.”

Head of Academy Craig Mulholland, meanwhile, added: “We are delighted to secure one of the UK’s most sought after young talents.”

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It can always be tricky for clubs to secure the signatures of highly rated young players, particularly when there is such strong interest from elsewhere.

Billy Gilmour is one such example of a Rangers player who opted to leave Ibrox and join another club, and though he is now doing well at Chelsea, there is always that sense of what could have been had he turned out for the Light Blues.

However, King has decided to continue his development with Rangers, which is a significant coup for the Ibrox club considering he is, as Mulholland said, “one of the UK’s most sought after young talents”, and surely his time to shine in the Gers shirt at first team level will come sooner rather than later.