Rangers hold off 'definite' Premier League interest to sign player with 'great potential'
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Rangers find themselves itself up against it to fend off interest in their top talent from the cash-rich Premier League academies south of the border.
Over the years Rangers have seen several of the club's top prospects being pinched by watching English sides, with Billy Gilmour and Rory Wilson the most high-profile.
When a talented youngster goes to sign his first professional contract, it's up to Rangers to make sure there's a clear pathway of progression at Ibrox.
Whilst we can debate whether or not that has been the case in recent seasons, Rangers have just held off Premier League competition to sign down one of the club's top prospects.
Rangers tie down Aiden Crilly
Rangers have managed to secure the future of Aiden Crilly as he signs his first professional contract with the Ibrox club's academy.
Now stepping into full-time football at the Gers, Crilly has featured in Steven Smith's U18s side this season and played with the B team in a recent fixture v Utrecht.
Rangers technical director Nils Koppen admitted that the club are 'delighted' to get the deal over the line with Aiden Crilly a player of 'great potential'.
"We are delighted that Aiden Crilly has committed his future to Rangers," Koppen told Rangers.
"Aiden has been with the academy from a young age, and we're thrilled to see him continue his journey at Rangers.
"Aiden has shown great potential throughout his time in the academy, and we're excited to see how he will continue to develop as he makes the step into the full-time environment.
"It's a proud moment for Aiden, his family, and the club. Our schoolboy programme and staff have played an important role in helping him to reach this stage in his journey, and we all look forward to continuing to support Aiden as he takes the next steps in his career here at Rangers"
Rangers hold off 'definite interest' from Premier League
The move is particularly significant amid claims that Rangers held off Premier League interest to convince Aiden Crilly that his future lies with the Ibrox academy.
According to the RFC Youths WordPress account, a blogger with close links and a firm understanding of the Rangers academy, Crilly was a wanted man south of the border.
Claiming there was 'definite interest' from the English Premier League, the blogger has praised the club for getting the deal over the line.
Rangers have also announced that Jack Caldwell has signed his first ever professional deal with the Rangers academy.
Nils Koppen also hailed Caldwell via the Rangers website, claiming the club are 'very pleased' to tie the 15-year-old down at Ibrox.
