The Ibrox gaffer has been thrilled with what Defoe has brought to his Rangers side in the last year since arriving on-loan from AFC Bournemouth – and now when that deal expires, he’ll become a permanent Gers player in the summer.
“It’s fantastic news,” Gerrard told RangersTV. “It’s something we have been working on over the weeks and it is great to finally get that done and dusted.
“He is an incredible professional with the way he goes about his work on and off the pitch – he is a credit to himself and his family.
“And, also on the pitch, which is the main thing, he is still contributing heavily. He is a major part of this group, this team and this squad and hopefully, together we can go and share some success as I think he deserves that.
“He is a role model to all our kids in the Academy, and all the young kids out there who are big fans of his because he carries himself very well.
“He is the type of player that does everything that is asked of him – he eats the right food, he gets the right rest and he is the model professional.
“He is never out the gym, he is first on the training pitch and he is last off it. He was unbelievable to play with and I am very proud to be his manager now – he is just an absolute credit to himself.”