Celtic Academy star Mitchel Frame has signed a new contract at the club until summer 2026. Frame already had a deal to summer 2025 but the club has now nailed him down for a further year.

The 17-year-old left back featured at the 2023 UEFA Under-17 European Championships earlier this year where he started all three games for Scotland as they finished bottom of their group. A group containing France, Portugal and eventual winners Germany.

3rd May 2023 Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland: Scottish FA Youth Cup Final, theRangers versus Celtic Mitchel Frame of Celtic celebrates scoring to make it 1-1 in the 25th minute. Photo ActionPlus Vagelis Georgariou

After his own impressive performances at the finals in Hungary, it was reported on The Celtic Star that Newcastle were watching the player “very closely”. Frame has been attracting interest since the beginning of last year, with Football Scotland reporting the teenager had been offered terms by Premier League sides Tottenham, Wolves and Crystal Palace.

The current Scotland u19 international has shone for the Celtic B team in what has been a frustrating start for Stephen McManus’ Bhoys, making eight appearances scoring once so far this season. Tying down the talented left back is a significant coup for Celtic considering the number of exciting youth prospects who have left the East End of Glasgow to further their development in recent times.

Football – 2022 / 2023 SFA Youth Cup – Final – theRangers U-18 vs Celtic U-18 – Hampden Park – Wednesday 3rd May 2023 Mitchel Frame of Celtic vies with Zander Hutton of theRangers

With the poor form of both Greg Taylor and Alessandro Bernabei so far this season, could the talented youth player be fast-tracked into the first team? Only time will tell, but Frame must have sought assurances over a pathway into the first team in order to sign a new deal. A certain Kieran Tierney broke into the Celtic team at a similar age due to a lack of in form options in that position.

The Celtic Star this afternoon suggested another name for the left back solution that Celtic are seeking and the player in question will be facing the Hoops next Saturday so you can judge for yourselves!

26th July 2023 Dens Park, Dundee, Viaplay Cup , Dundee versus Dumbarton Owen Beck of Dundee during the warm up Photo ActionPlus David Young

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Celtic will now turn their attention to fellow B team talent Rocco Vata, in hope he too will commit his future to the club and if he can be convinced that there is a viable pathway to the first team that should be a more likely prospect, amid strong interest from England and Italy in the Irish u21 winger.

James French