Rangers academy right-back Jack Caldwell has signed his first professional contract at Ibrox, the club announced.
Rangers B and Academy announced on X (14 January) that the 15-year-old has signed a full-time contract with Auchenhowie and will join the Bears’ Under-18s moving ahead.
Caldwell is still a long way from making his senior debut, but with academy product Aflie Devine on the sidelines at Ibrox, the teenager will see a clear path up the pecking order to the first team.
According to the Gers’ website, technical director Nils Koppen stated, “We are very pleased to welcome Jack into the full-time environment here at Rangers.”
“Jack has progressed through our academy and now moves into our Under 18s group, where he will be supported through our education programme, marking an exciting step in his development on and off the pitch.”
Jack Campbell is the next youngster on the Rangers production line.
Despite an injury problem among his present first-team defenders in Light Blue, Philippe Clement will be unable to rely on the 15-year-old Campbell to fill gaps at right-back.
Clement is currently forced to play a left-footer on the right side of his defence, with Dujon Sterling, Neraysho Kasanwirjo, and James Tavernier all sidelined.
Devine’s inability to get a look-in despite this suggests that his immediate and long-term future lay away from Ibrox, which Campbell will be hoping to avoid in the coming years.
Regardless of who is in charge at Ibrox next summer, Kasanwirjo’s loan is unlikely to be extended, and Tavernier is also expected to leave.
Campbell will have to wait his turn as he works his way up the Gers’ pecking order, but if an opportunity arises, the teenager will have to seize it with both hands due to Rangers’ cut-and-thrust style.
