Rory Whittaker has signed a new three-year contract at Hibernian.
The right-back made history by becoming the youngest player to make his first team debut for the club in the 2-0 win over St Johnstone.
At just 16 years and 44 days, Whittaker is also fourth on the all-time record list of youngest players to feature in the Scottish top-flight.
Whittaker - who is a Scotland youth international - signed his first deal at Hibs in the under-11 age group having previously played with Spartans.
On the lengthy contract announcement, academy director Gareth Evans commented: “First and foremost, Rory’s contract extension is very well deserved. Throughout his years in the Academy, he’s worked hard to give himself the best possible chance of succeeding.
“We were delighted to see him make his debut, and make history with Hibs, but making your debut as a young player is always the easier part. For him now, the challenge is to keep working hard and pushing himself to try and earn another chance.
“He has to stay humble and keep working with the same determination and desire to ensure he meets his potential.
“The opportunity that Rory received also shows that the Manager is willing to give young players a chance, which is really encouraging for the Academy. Our young players know that if they work hard, continue to develop, and impress, then they may be given that opportunity.”
Discussing Whittaker's debut against St Johnstone, Hibs boss Nick Montgomery said: "It could have been one of those moments for him - I think the roof would have lifted off Easter Road if he'd scored that chance. But I'm really happy for him, and it's just one of the many positives from the last couple of weeks.
"I think the young players at the club, and others in and around the area that might have other clubs to choose from as well as Hibs, will look at this moment and see that there is a real pathway into the first team for youngsters.
"Rory more than deserved his opportunity. I saw him play against Rangers last week in the under-18 league and was very impressed with him and then he trained with the first team this week and his attitude was spot on.
"He's a local boy, he's been in our academy for a long time, and there's no better feeling than giving a young lad like him his debut. But he more than deserved it. If he didn't deserve it, he wouldn't have got it.
"I thought he took the chance with both hands. He's not a winger; he's a full-back, but we've had a bit of a lack of wide players. I was going to put Lewis Miller further up the field but he was defending those diagonal balls to the back post really well so it was an opportunity to put Rory on and take a bit of pressure off him defensively. He worked his socks off and I'm really proud of him."
