Northern Ireland teenager Lewis MacKinnon "buzzing" after signing new Rangers deal

Northern Ireland teenage defender Lewis MacKinnon is “buzzing” after signing a new contract with Scottish giants Rangers.

MacKinnon, who joined the Ibrox club three years ago, has been rewarded with a new deal and put to pen-to-paper on Monday.

The 19-year-old centre-back, who has featured for the Rangers B team this season, wrote on his Instagram account: “Buzzing to sign a new deal at Rangers Football Club.

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“Can’t wait to start the new season.”

MacKinnon, whose new contract runs until 2023, is one of several Northern Ireland underage players currently plying their trade at Ibrox.

Charlie McCann, Kyle McClelland, Charlie Lindsay, Ross McCausland and Chris McKee, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Linfield, are also part of the Rangers set-up.

After joining the Old Firm giants from Linfield in 2019, MacKinnon, who hails from County Down, said his long term aim was to eventually break into the Rangers first team.

Back then he told Belfast Live Sport: “The long-term ambition is to play for the first team. I grew up supporting Rangers, so that is my dream. It would be unbelievable.”

MacKinnon, who has represented Northern Ireland at U17 and U19 level, helped Rangers U18s win the Club Academy Scotland (CAS) league title last season.

He played for the U19s in this season's UEFA Youth League against Hammarby of Sweden and Bulgarian outfit Septemvri Sofia.