Rangers FC are locking down one of their most promising young talents. Bailey Rice, the 19-year-old midfielder who has been attracting attention from clubs across Europe and the Premier League, is set to sign a new contract extension this week.

A teenager with a growing fan club

Rice, born on October 4, 2006, first signed for Rangers on June 30, 2022. His previous contract was extended in September 2023 to run until May 2026. With that expiration date looming, the window for interested parties to start making noise was wide open.

Ajax, Schalke, Nottingham Forest, Aston Villa, and Crystal Palace have all reportedly shown interest in the young midfielder. That’s a varied and impressive list, spanning the Eredivisie, the Bundesliga, and the Premier League. For a player with roughly 16 senior appearances to his name, that level of attention speaks volumes about what scouts are seeing.

His estimated market value sits at approximately €800K.

The path so far, injuries and all

Rice’s senior career at Rangers has been a slow build rather than a sudden breakthrough. His approximately 16 first-team appearances include a Scottish Cup match and a Europa League debut in 2024, both significant milestones for a player still in his teens.

That path got more complicated toward the end of 2025, when Rice dealt with a knee issue that hampered his progress.

Rohl’s development blueprint

This contract extension fits into the broader strategy being implemented by manager Danny Rohl. The focus on squad development and nurturing homegrown talent has been a recurring theme under his leadership, and locking Rice into a longer-term deal is perhaps the clearest example yet of that philosophy in action.

If Rice continues to develop and eventually becomes a regular starter, the club benefits on the pitch. If his trajectory leads to a move to one of those interested Premier League or European clubs down the line, Rangers benefit from a significantly higher transfer fee than the €800K valuation he currently carries. Letting him run down his contract and leave on a free would have been the worst of both worlds.

What this means for Rangers’ summer

By securing Rice’s future now, Rangers remove one piece of uncertainty from what promises to be a busy period of squad management as the summer transfer window approaches. The new deal, set to be signed on June 15, 2026, ensures any future move happens on their terms rather than on a free transfer.