Chelsea sign starlet Billy Gilmour to first professional contract with the Blues
The former Rangers starlet moved to Stamford Bridge last summer
BILLY GILMOUR has signed his first professional contract with Chelsea.
The former Rangers kid moved to Stamford Bridge last summer - despite the Light Blues' best efforts to keep him at the club.
Gilmour, who starred for Scotland Under-21s at the Toulon Tournament this summer, had a great debut campaign with the Blues.
The dominant Under-18 side, managed by Jody Morris, won the quadruple last season.
And the 17-year-old - who SunSport featured as part of our Boy Wonder series last month - couldn't hide his delight as he took to Twitter to announce the news.
He wrote: "Happy to sign my first professional contract @ChelseaFC."
Before his switch to England, Rangers chiefs promised to fast-track the youngster into Premiership action if he stayed.
, pint-sized Gilmour admitted that would be too much to soon and he wouldn't be physically prepared for taking on the likes of Celtic skipper Scott Brown.
Earlier this summer, Gilmour became Scotland's youngest ever U21 scorer with his brilliant opener against South Korea.
He was a key part of the team at the Toulon Tournament, with Scotland going all the way to the semi-finals before losing to eventual champions England.
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Gilmour is expected to feature for Chelsea U23s next season and already trained twice with the first-team last season.
He sees Cesc Fabregas as an inspiration.
The teenager said: "I've trained with Chelsea's first-team twice and I love watching Fabregas play.
"That's who I want to match.
"One of the sessions was in preparation for a match and the other was a harder session, so that was a great experience.
"I've also worked with Frank Lampard. As a coach he's been amazing with me - a great help.
"Next season I want to push into the U23 and Uefa Youth League squad. Then if I'm physically developed enough, I'd try to go on loan to a first team.
"People who say I'll never get a chance at Chelsea haven't experienced it so they don't know."