Rangers have announced that academy graduate Leon King has signed a new long-term contract with the club.
The 18-year-old has established himself as a first-team regular with the Glaswegian giants this season, featuring in 19 games across all competitions.
King's performances are believed to have caught the eye of a number of Premier League clubs including Manchester United, Newcastle United and Leeds United, who have been scouting the young defender for some time.
However, King has decided to commit his future to Ibrox and he is understood to have signed a contract extension until the summer of 2026.
Speaking to Rangers' official website on his new deal, King said: "I am just extremely happy to sign a long-term extension to my contract, it is amazing for me and my family. I have always wanted to play for this club, and I am glad that it is continuing.
💙 #RangersFC are today delighted to announce @RFC_Youth Academy graduate @Leon_king04 has agreed a new, long-term deal with the club.
— Rangers Football Club (@RangersFC) December 15, 2022
All the info 👇
"I have been a fan of the club ever since I was born, my whole family are Rangers fans as well and I love this club, so it was a no-brainer."
Newly-appointed head coach Michael Beale added: "I am really pleased for both Leon and his family to have agreed this new contract.
"He was someone we always had high hopes for when I was here previously, and it has been fantastic to see how he has developed both before I left, and in the year since.
"With both Connor Goldson and Ben Davies nearing returns to the team, that will provide Leon with an even greater opportunity to learn and develop, and push on for even more appearances in the first-team."
Sporting director Ross Wilson continued: "We laid out a clear plan for Leon three years ago and he has followed that plan from our academy to our first team excellently.
"I am pleased for Leon and his family that we have now secured his long-term future at Rangers."
© Reuters
King, who is regarded as one of Rangers' brightest young prospects to have emerged from their academy, made his Under-20s debut at the age of just 14 before making his professional debut as a 16-year-old in the League Cup in December 2020.
The versatile defender, who can play at either centre-back or right-back as well as in midfield, has since made a total of 27 senior appearances for the Gers and is also a Scotland Under-21 international.
Beale revealed on Wednesday that King was close to signing a new deal, while one other "senior" player is also soon set to pen fresh contract terms.
"Yeah there's positive signs with that [King deal], I think you'll hear something in the next couple of days and one other player signing new deals, which is really important for the club," Beale told reporters.
"We've got some really important players under 25 that are important for the future. Leon is one of those. He's got potential to kick on and be a really important player for Rangers and Scotland. The other is one of the senior players."
King will be in contention to start in Beale's first competitive game in charge of Rangers, who welcome Hibernian to Ibrox in the Scottish Premiership on Thursday night.
Oliver Thomas
