Balogun ‘very happy’ to sign Rangers extension, eager to play in Champions League

SUPER Eagles defender Leon Balogun could not hide his happiness after extending his stay at Scottish Premiership champions Rangers.

The 32-year-old centre-back formalised the details of his one-year extension at the club on Friday, weeks after helping them win their first title in nine years.

“I am very, very happy,” he told RangersTV on Friday. “There have been a few other players coming out with contract extensions and I was thinking to myself, ‘when is it my turn, when are we going to announce it!?’

“But, I have been working towards that. When I first signed, I had that option – I think everyone knows that by now – and for me, it was just about working towards that and it is fantastic.

“I have been here almost a year now and we won the league in my first year being here which, as we all know, is a massive achievement for the club.

“I am proud and happy to be part of that and from day one pretty much, I have felt loads of love from the group and from the staff, and then when the games came in, from the fans on social media although I haven’t met them yet properly!

“It was pretty much a no-brainer for me. I was not hesitating, I was just waiting until it could get over the line and I am really, really happy – it is a really happy day for me and I am very proud.

“It is a massive club. The trophies and the success in the past speaks for itself. I have been told that but I have realised now a little bit that this is one of the clubs that has the biggest support worldwide and it is just incredible to be part of that.

“I am in my 30s now – so advanced footballer age – and to get the opportunity to represent a club like this at this stage of my career is amazing and, as I said before, it is the love you feel, the togetherness and that sense of having a family is just massive and I hope the boys and I can repay that.”

After having his first taste of a major trophy with the Glasgow giants, Nigeria international Balogun is hoping to achieve even more with the club he joined at the beginning of this season.

He added: “You improve every day and I want to remain part of that for as long as possible, and the next challenge will be to keep setting new limits to push that bar a bit higher.

“Everybody is fully determined – I think you can hear it from the interviews the lads and the management staff are giving, we are just getting started now and, obviously, that is a big statement to make so it requires a lot of effort, a lot of work and everybody is determined to put that in.”

Balogun has turned his focus playing in the UEFA Champions League next season, which would be the first time in his career.

“Champions League is one of my dreams,” he offered.

“I think I said that in an interview two years ago when things weren’t looking that great for me.

“I said then I would love to play another World Cup and play in the Champions League. Now, I am one step closer which is amazing.

“I was never going to leave this club before I had met the fans properly and played in front of a full Ibrox, and things seem to be going in the right direction.

“They are the biggest part of the club with the way they carry the club and the pride they bring into the club and how it connects with the players.

“I have not seen it yet – I can only speak of what I have heard but I seriously cannot wait to be in a full Ibrox, and also at away games as I have heard they are everywhere and I want to witness that and have that experience of them carrying us to greater highs.”

Balogun has played 28 matches in all competitions for Rangers since joining them in June. He has three assists but no goals.