Rangers Academy have confirmed that Luca Rankin has signed his first professional contract with the club, tying him to Ibrox until the summer of 2029.
The highly-rated midfielder celebrated his 16th birthday last month and was attracting interest from several rival clubs before choosing to stay with Rangers.
Rankin is the son of Airdrieonians manager John Rankin, who himself enjoyed a prominent career in Scottish football with clubs including Hibs and Dundee United.
The young midfielder is now looking to forge his own path in the game, following the example set by his father at Premiership level across a distinguished playing career.
Rankin had already been impressing at youth level, featuring regularly for both the Rangers under-19s and under-17s sides last season as both teams celebrated league title success.
He has also earned international recognition, having been capped at under-16 level for Scotland, further underlining his status as one of the more promising young midfielders in the country.
Despite interest from other clubs, Rankin opted to commit his future to Rangers, a decision influenced in part by the first-team exposure he has already received at Ibrox.
Along with Ashton Scally and Kyle Glasgow, Rankin was afforded senior training opportunities under previous head coach Danny Rohl before Derek McInnes took charge of the club.
Scally, who also emerged from Rangers’ 2010 crop, made his first-team debut in the final game of last season against Falkirk, offering a clear pathway that Rankin will be hoping to follow.
David McCallum, interim head of academy at Rangers, has spoken about how the prospect of first-team opportunities has been a key factor in convincing talented youngsters to turn down interest from elsewhere and sign with the club.
The deal represents a significant moment for Rankin personally, with the teenager now positioned to develop within one of Scottish football’s most established and well-resourced academy setups.
Rangers will be hoping that Rankin can continue his progression and ultimately push for a place in the first-team picture at Ibrox over the coming years.
