Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Ajer pens new deal at Hoops
KRISTOFFER Ajer signed a new four-year deal with Celtic then admitted his progress had been quicker than expected.
The 20-year-old Norwegian joined the Glasgow club from IK Start in July 2016 primarily as a midfielder, and was sent out on loan to Kilmarnock the following Januar y where he played as centre-back.
He returned last summer and has been a regular in the Hoops rearguard since December.
Ajer played an integral part in helping Brendan Rodgers’ side secure a seventh consecutive Ladbrokes Premiership title, with the prospect of an unprecedented successive domestic treble when they face Motherwell in the Scottish Cup Final at Hampden on Saturday.
“I am really delighted to sign a new deal for this massive club and get the opportunity to develop even more,” said Ajer, who now has two Norway caps.
“It all about development and getting better every single day.
“I have to admit that things have happened a little bit quicker than I expected.
“I feel I have developed really well over the last year and the half-year spell I had at Kilmarnock was really important for me. I played all the games there and it helped me a lot.
“I am learning every day, and still learning my role. As a 20-year-old you need to look at development and there is no better place than Celtic
“The l ast six months have been fantastic and hopefully I can continue to develop in the same way.
“It is a big thing to get a four-year deal and, hopefully, there i s even more to come. It is a really exciting time now to go for the double treble which is a goal for us.”