Rangers director Zeb Jacobs couldn’t contain his excitement over the signing of top young Everton prospect Arian Allen for the club’s Academy.
The Gers have announced the signing of the 16-year-old forward after he spent six years coming through the youth ranks at the Premier League side’s Academy.
Rangers can give players their first professional contracts at 16 whilst sides south of the border have to wait until the player is 17-years-old to get them to sign a deal.
Described as a “dynamic forward who can play across the frontline”, Arian Allen will go into Steven Smith’s U18s squad until the end of the season.
Zeb Jacobs: Rangers excited by Arian Allen deal
Talking about the transfer, Rangers Academy Director Zeb Jacobs was certainly happy to secure the signing of Arian Allen from Everton.
Speaking in an official Rangers statement on the deal, it’s clear this is a young player who is very highly-rated by the club’s progressive youth department.
“It is great for us to have Arian on board,” said Jacobs. “We are all excited to start working with him and develop his potential over the coming seasons.”
Whilst Arian Allen is only 16-years-old – and as such expectations need to be tempered – it’s yet more evidence of Rangers’ proactive youth department moving for top young talent.
Ibrox academy continues to invest
The stand-out addition from the lower leagues in recent seasons is obviously former Millwall striker Zak Lovelace, who has already broken into the top team.
A very highly-rated young England youth international, the 18-year-old is tipped for big things in the game even if his recent Rangers breakthrough was interrupted by injury.
Even Ross McCausland – who is now a bonafide first-team regular – was signed from Northern Irish side Linfield.
Rangers also had young Brentford talent Nathan Young-Coombes on their books before he moved to the Bees, whilst Johnly Yfeko (Leicester) and Bailey Rice (Motherwell) are on the periphery of the first-team squad.
The Gers can offer an elite Academy setting on par or superior to many of the facilities down south whilst also guaranteeing a more fluent pathway to the first team.
Whilst the club doesn’t have the financial backing of the Premier League, they remain an attractive option and that’s why Arian Allen is the latest talent to join the Rangers ranks.
