Rangers starlet Stephen Kelly has signed a new deal at Ibrox which will keep him at the club until 2023.

The 20-year-old put pen to paper on his new contract in Glasgow before immediately switching to Ross County on loan for the upcoming season.

Having spent last term on loan at Ayr United, Kelly has experience playing first-team football in the Championship which should stand him in good stead for his Premiership step up with County. And he told of his delight at the re-signing and subsequent move. "I’m delighted that I’ve now got another couple of years with Rangers to try and make the gap and get into the first team," he told the club website.

“I had a loan spell with Ayr United which has paid off and hopefully I can now keep working and keep progressing in the years to come. I definitely think I am capable of playing top flight football and I am excited to go to Ross County.”

Rangers sporting director Ross Wilson also insists the player is expected to make his mark at the Staggies. "Stevie is developing really well and impressing all of us with his progress," Wilson said. "He had a really good experience at Ayr United and we thank Ian McCall and Mark Kerr for the confidence shown in him and for aiding his development at Somerset Park.

“Stevie repaid that faith as Ayr’s young player of the season. In turn we have rewarded him with this new contact which is part of what we will do going forward at Rangers, reward young players when they earn it.

"It was part of our development plan for him to now test himself at Premiership level and Steven Gerrard has made clear to Stevie that we expect him to make a strong impact in the league at Ross County."