Nikola Katic Signs New Contract

RANGERS can today announce that 23-year-old defender Nikola Katic has signed a new contract with the club.

The centre-half, who has been capped once for Croatia, will extend his stay at Ibrox until the summer of 2023 after signing for the Light Blues last June.

Katic has impressed since he arrived from NK Slaven Belupo in 2018, establishing himself as an integral part of the Gers defensive unit and winning the hearts of the Light Blues support with his passionate displays.

Katic said:

“I think it is a really good club for a young player, with this manager, a lot of fans and a lot of good players with experience from the Premier League and other leagues in the world that will definitely help me to grow every day and become a better person and a better player.

“We are in a really good position the club is growing day by day first in the league and hopefully we will keep that until the end which is they key point.

“We are in a really good position and hopefully that will help me and my team mates to become better players.”

Gers manager Steven Gerrard said: “I amdelighted for him; first and foremost I think he deserves it, he is a player who comes in here on a daily basis and he tries to improve every day.

“He is certainly someone who will put his body on the line for this club and he has certainly earned the contract extension.

“The message to Niko now is that this is the start again, you reset yourself and you go again and keep trying to play at that consistent level because he has become a fans favourite.

He made his competitive debut in the UEFA Europa League against FK Shkupi and scored his first Rangers goal at home to Croatian side NK Osijek in the same competition. Alongside Connor Goldson at the back, he helped steer the Gers into the group stages of the competition for the 2018/19 season.

Katic went on to score twice more in his first season in Scotland and has one to his name for the current campaign, an impressive goal against FC Midtjylland.

To date, the Croatian under-21 international has played 41 times for Rangers, 39 of which have been starts.