RANGERS ACADEMY are today delighted to announce Adam Devine, Arron Lyall and Cole McKinnon have signed new contracts with the club until May 2022.
The trio put pen-to-paper on their deals to continue their footballing education at the Rangers Training Centre ahead of what promises to be an exciting year. Eligible to play in the CAS under-18 league, they will be looking to push onwards to Brian Gilmour and Kevin Thomson’s B Team, as well as being eligible for the UEFA Youth League, which Gers are once again part of.
Their footballing education at Rangers is designed to set them on a pathway to future success, and from the club’s perspective, retaining more of its talented young players is a further sign of the belief they have in the Academy programme at the club.
Head of Academy, Craig Mulholland, commented: “We are delighted that three bright young talents have committed their futures to Rangers. All of the players have been involved at international level over the last couple of years and have chosen Rangers despite interest from clubs in England and abroad.
“We are really clear that players must be desperate to play for a club like Rangers and agreements with all three were reached really quickly.
“For any young player at this age I think they now look at the coaching staff in the Professional Development Phase in Kevin Thomson, Brian Gilmour, David McCallum and Cameron Campbell and the overarching support Graeme Murty will be providing our most talented players and they see a real opportunity to learn and develop from some modern and exciting coaches over the next few years.
“The opportunity that has been created by the manager and Ross Wilson for to progress to the first-team also demonstrates, for those who are good enough and show that burning desire, that our player planning will create the chances they crave.
"These two factors when combined with our innovative games programme, which will combine the Glasgow Cup and Challenge Cup against men’s first teams with the ‘best v best’ opportunities the UEFA Youth League provides, makes Rangers’ Academy a great place for these lads to push their potential.
“We wish all three lads well in their Rangers careers over the next few years.”
Meanwhile, going in the other direction, Dire Mebude will join Manchester City after the two clubs came to an agreement over his transfer.
Mulholland added: “We wish Dire well at Manchester City. Ross and I will take the decision to trade players out when we believe it fits with the overall planning that we have in mind for of our squads.
“That is the case with Dire and he leaves with our best wishes. This summer we have recruited Tony Weston from Blackpool, who was much sought-after in the EPL having made his Blackpool debut in the FA Cup at only 16; we have recruited James Graham from Ross County who has been involved with the national team and, like Charlie Lindsay, another international player who joined us from Glentoran, had many options.
“We are excited to have recruited these three exciting talents. With the potential changes to the FIFA regulations on the transfer of minors, the impact of the UK leaving the EU and the changing role of intermediaries, Ross and I have a clear view on how we will manage our player contracts, player development and how our player trading will evolve.
“Moving forward the work of our recruitment team will ensure that we are at the forefront of the market for incoming talent while we will maximise the fees we receive for players we decide to move in the other direction. It has been an excellent window so far and in terms of assets and potential, we are in a stronger place now than we were at the opening of the window.”