Rangers fend off interest from Premier League titans to secure future of starlet
The teenager had caught the eye of Arsenal, Manchester City and Liverpool among others
Rangers academy prospect Ashton Scally has reportedly put pen to paper on his first professional contract with the club despite interest from a host of big names from the English Premier League.
Having turned 16 on Saturday, the Light Blues have wasted no time on securing the future of the highly-rated left back, who was being looked by Manchester City, Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur. The club couldn’t have acted any quicker, as players cannot sign professional contracts until they’ve reached the official school leaving age, as per Scottish FA regulations.
Scally’s performances at under-19 level have grabbed the attention of Danny Rohl, who has identified him as a player that’s ready to make the step up from the youth ranks. Alongside 17-year old goalkeeper Rydnn Maguire, the defender travelled to Spain with the squad for their warm-weather training camp in La Manga this week, having also been involved in first-team sessions at Auchenhowie throughout the season.
Scally puts pen to paper on first deal
According to the Rangers Review, the defender, who is the son of former Ayr United and Falkirk man Neil Scally, is set to a sign a three-year deal at Ibrox despite the outside noise. Scally is already a regular feature in the youth set up for both club and country, having also represented Scotland at under-19 level.
Rohl is hoping to clear the pathway from academy to first team and wanted to play Scally in the Scottish Cup clash with Annan Athletic earlier in the season but was unable to because of his age. He did however start 17-year old Zebedee Lawson, who came off the bench in the 5-0 victory. Scally is now heading down the same path as fellow Govan hot prospect, Kyle Glasgow, who signed his first professional deal in January.
Rangers pave the way for emerging stars
Gers winger, Findlay Curtis is the prime example that the step up can be made. The 19-year old is continuing to impress for Kilmarnock amid his loan spell and was recently called up to Steve Clarke’s Scotland squad for his exploits. He’ll return to Rangers in the summer, where he’ll now be eyeing up a place in the starting XI.
Between Scally, Lawson, Maguire and Glasgow, Rohl is setting a precedent at the club already that anyone can make it into the first team if they put the work in. The under-19s are training more regularly with the first team now in an attempt to do away with Rangers’ B team structure from last season - a decision which so far is paying off.