Ryan Duncan signs new deal

The Club confirms it has secured the future of highly rated youngster Ryan Duncan, with the AFC Youth Academy graduate signing a two-year contract extension.

The 17-year-old winger, who will now remain with the Dons until 2024, has been with the AFC Youth Academy since the age of nine, has scored ten goals in the Club Academy Scotland U18 League this season and has three assists.

A Scotland U17 international, Ryan was a stand-out for Barry Robson’s Under 18s side, before he joined Scottish League One side Peterhead on loan until January.

The midfielder made his Aberdeen first team debut against Rangers last season and is now focussed on continuing his development and making more regular appearances for the first team. He said:

“I am now contracted to the club until the summer of 2024 and that will take me to the age of 20. I now have two, three years to try and push myself into the team and try to become a regular.

“It gives me a lot of security and I can just focus on my football now.

“The pathway is really good at the Club. Obviously, there is a strong history of taking boys from the youth academy and putting them into the first team. It does make me believe that if I work hard enough then I will get a chance as well.”

“It is the perfect place for me to develop my game and hopefully I can make it through to the first team as soon as possible.”

Development Phase Manager Barry Robson predicts a bright future for Ryan. Barry said:

“Ryan is someone we think very highly of and who we think has the ability to progress into the first team.

“He is a player who needs to be at his optimum, his fittest, his sharpest to be at his best but the model we are following at the moment for his pathway is working very well.

“He’s missed the last six weeks due to injury so it’s going to take a bit of time to get him back up to speed but he’s back training again, and I’m sure he’ll kick on now at Peterhead. It’s a good level for him to go to play at, it’s a competitive league and I’ve no doubt he will do well there.

“He’s definitely a player we hold in high regard.

Steven Gunn, Director of Football added:

“We’re delighted that Ryan has committed his future to the Club.

“He’s a player that’s excelled at U18s level this season and shows the right attitude to working at his craft.

“He’s another local lad who has a very bright future ahead of him, and we’re looking forward to helping him achieve his football ambitions over the coming years.”