Jai Quitongo signs contract extension
We are delighted to announce that striker Jai Quitongo has today signed a contract extension to commit himself to the club until 10 June 2018.
Hitman Jai originally joined us in August 2015 and spent the majority of his first campaign turning out for the Under-20s in the Development League West.
A number of impressive displays for Andy Millen’s side saw him make his top-team breakthrough earlier than anticipated when he made his debut off the bench against Raith Rovers here at Cappielow on 18 December 2015.
The 19-year-old went on to make seven substitute appearances in total before establishing himself as a regular first-team starter in Jim Duffy’s team this term.
Jai scored six goals, including strikes against the likes of Kilmarnock, Hamilton Accies, and Dundee United, in 20 starts and three sub appearances as well as picking up his first Scotland Under-21 cap, against Slovakia in November last year.
Those eye-catching performances attracted a number of admiring glances from down south, with Doncaster Rovers making a bid for the forward’s services in August.
Quitongo currently finds himself on the sidelines after suffering a knee injury away to Dunfermline in December but is on the road to recovery following an operation in January.
The talented teenager’s current contract was set to expire at the end of the current campaign and manager Jim Duffy was keen to keep him at Cappielow.
Speaking exclusively to gmfc.net, the Ton boss said: “We’re absolutely delighted that Jai has committed himself to Morton for the foreseeable future, to the summer of 2018.
“He’s a potentially outstanding talent and we’re thrilled that Jai and the club have come to an agreement to have him stay. There was obviously a lot of speculation surrounding the boy just before he got injured.
“He’s only really had about 20 first-team starts, so he maybe thinks it’s in his interests as well to get a bit more experience, and if he keeps developing and working hard he may get that move further down the line.
“If he’s enjoying his football and playing regular first-team football then he might feels it’s in his best interests to stay for a bit longer. He’s a boy with terrific potential and hopefully he can fulfil some of that potential with Morton.
“But I think for everybody at this moment in time, the most important thing was that Jai wanted to sign and we were keen to get it done, so we’re delighted to get it over the line.”
Image: Jonathan Mitchell
