Academy graduate Cameron Borthwick-Jackson has signed a long-term deal at Manchester United after an impressive debut season.
Borthwick-Jackson, born in Manchester, joined Marcus Rashford in signing deals until at least 2020 with an option for a one-year extension.
Borthwick-Jackson signs new deal at boyhood club
The 19-year-old joined the club as a six-year-old and has been with United for the past 13 years. He made his first team debut in November against West Bromwich Albion and has now played 14 times for his boyhood club. Making his debut under sacked manager Louis van Gaal, it is a good sign that he has been given a new contract under Jose Mourinho's management having been appointed on Friday.
Borthwick-Jackson describes first season as "a dream come true"
Having "grown up at United" and having "enjoyed every minute of being here," Borthwick-Jackson described his last season as "an incredible experience" involving making his first team debut which was a "dream come true for myself, and my family."
He told the club's official website that he feels the new contract stands him "in good stead" to continue his development at Old Trafford. Despite that, he knows that he must "continue to work hard and take advice from the manager and his coaching team to improve with every training session."
There have been concerns raised by some United fans following the appointment of Mourinho over his youth record at his previous clubs, especially after van Gaal put so much faith in youth when injuries hit his squad. However, this is a positive sign for those fans, even if the orders did not come from Mourinho himself.
Borthwick-Jackson was named as under-21 player of the year at the club's annual awards ceremony a few weeks ago having been vital to the youth team's U21 Premier League title win this season under Warren Joyce.
The English defender has mainly played at left-back and although he was dropped for Marcos Rojo at the end of the season, he played extremely well when he was given a chance.
United's executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward said he is "delighted" to have Borthwick-Jackson sign a new long-term deal and said he looks "forward to seeing him in the squad for many years to come."
Woodward continued to say that this kind of thing is "something that our club has always done and promoting the academy and under-21 players is something that makes everybody associated with the club very proud."