On Monday, Rangers confirmed that young prospect Jamie Barjonas had now extended his contract at the club until 2020.
The midfielder broke through into the first team at the end of last season and he’s continued to feature this year as well as taking in games at Under 20 level to continue his development.
With his progress rewarded by Scotland Under 19 level involvement, he follows Aiden Wilson in putting pen to paper on a new deal at the club.
Speaking to the Official Site Head of Academy Craig Mulholland explained.
‘Jamie is another one who we have been speaking to over the last few weeks, and I think the progress he has made in the first-team in the last few weeks has been excellent. He is obviously a combative midfield player who is still only 18, so to get him tied up to 2020 means it is another one of the club`s young players that we have secured for the future. Jamie has been in the Academy since the age of eight I think, and over the last 12 months, he has really kicked-on. You look at him – he is a strong athlete who is technically good.’
He added.
‘He looks after the ball well, and in terms of the game model and style of play we want to have at the club, it is these types of players who are technically good and competent on the ball that will fit on what we want to introduce and keep developing. He has now had two or three appearances from the bench as well as a start. When he has come on to the pitch, and I think this is part of the mental skills programme we do – he has looked really confident and not like a young player who is coming onto the pitch and is overawed by Ibrox and everything else. He looks confident and that is one of the key attributes we want a Rangers player to have, and hopefully that augers well for the future for Jamie.’
He has made three appearances so far this campaign and although he only has one start to his name, his full record includes five substitute appearances.
Speaking himself about the deal, he couldn’t have been happier to sign it.
‘I`m delighted. I`ve been at the club for such a long time and from such a young age, so to be able to sign a new, two-year deal is a great feeling. I`m finally glad to put pen to paper. Training with the first team every day has been a step-up as the standards are higher and the demands are higher, but it is a lot better for my development. I can feel myself improving every day and I am delighted to be training with them every day. To get into squads and then to get onto the pitch is an add-on, and it`s great.’
He went on to say.
‘Playing with players such as Ryan Jack, Jason Holt and Graeme Dorrans – they have had a lot of experiences, like Graeme who has played in the Premier League. So being able to train with them every day and picking up on the certain things they have been doing in training is a great way for me as a young player to develop.’
