Son of SPFL manager signs Rangers contract as 'highly rated' talent chooses Ibrox deal over rival suitors

Luca Rankin - son of Airdrieonians manager John Rankin - has agreed a deal that runs until 2029 at Ibrox. Other clubs were interested in the midfielder who has been capped by Scotland at youth level. He has decided on remaining with Rangers after featuring in under-19s and under-17s teams alongside senior training exposure.

The Light Blues starlet has followed in the footsteps of his dad, who featured prominently for Hibs and Dundee United at Premiership level, and is now forging his own career in football. Interim head of academy at Rangers, David McCallum, insists opportunities will be afforded to Rankin for his career to develop.

What player has signed a contract with Rangers.

McCallum said: “We are thrilled that Luca has signed his first professional contract at the club. The interest in Luca from elsewhere has been well-documented, as has been the case for several of our 2010-born age group this year, but he believes in the opportunities that exist here.

“His decision reflects the clear pathway we provide for young players. Luca has taken every challenge in his stride throughout his time in the academy, and he will be supported and challenged every step of the way by the fantastic staff we have here at the club.”

A Rangers statement adds: “Rangers Academy can today confirm Luca Rankin has signed his first professional contract with the club. The highly-rated midfielder, who celebrated his 16th birthday last month, has committed his future to the club until the summer of 2029. He was involved regularly for both the under-19s and under-17s last season as the respective sides celebrated league title success, while Rankin has also been capped at under-16 level for Scotland.”

Ashton Scally has also emerged from Rangers’ 2010 crop and debuted in the final game of last season versus Falkirk. Scally, Kyle Glasgow and Rankin had first team opportunities under previous head coach Danny Rohl prior to Derek McInnes’ managerial arrival and McCallum spoke recently of how such opportunities have convinced Ibrox youngsters to rebuff alternate options.

Why have Rangers handed youngsters new contracts?

He said to club media at the end of June: “It was very well-documented that there was interest from down south, but we began our plan for [Scally] very early on in the season. He was still 15 and we were looking ahead at what the season looked like. We built his schedule so he had his school programme which was really important.

“At the same time, while he was aged to play under-17s, we felt he needed a little bit more of a challenge and we built a schedule where he could have gotten some under-19s exposure. He also got some exposure to the first-team in that time because we don’t want it to come to a point where they have a glass ceiling and they can’t get to it. The manager was well-aligned and wanted to open up opportunities. Kyle Glasgow got that, and Luca Rankin too.

“I remember a game against Motherwell behind closed doors during an international break when all three of those players picked up minutes. It is young, but I’m pleased from a club perspective that we didn’t look at his age. The only restriction with their ages is that they couldn’t play in any competitive moments, and obviously Ashton gets that on the last day of the season when he had turned 16. We done the same with Kyle, Luca and one or two others in those spaces as well.”