CHERRIES defender Jack Simpson has signed a new two-and-a-half year deal with the club.
The contract will keep the 21-year-old at Vitality Stadium until at least June 2020.
Simpson has enjoyed a breakthrough season in Eddie Howe’s first team, having made three senior appearances.
He scored on his debut during the 3-1 Carabao Cup fourth-round victory over Middlesbrough and played 90 minutes in the 2-1 quarter-final defeat at Chelsea.
The centre-half was given his first Premier League appearance when he played 72 minutes of Cherries’ 4-0 loss at Manchester City last month.
Schooled at Wey Valley, Simpson joined Cherries when he was 12 before earning a two-year scholarship as a 16-year-old.
His rich potential saw him fast-tracked to Howe’s squad at 18 and he has been training with the first team for the past two years.
Meanwhile, goalkeeper Adam Federici saved a penalty on his return to action in Cherries under-21s' friendly victory at Queens Park Rangers.
The Australian stopper kept a clean sheet as the visitors won 3-0 thanks to goals from Emerson Hyndman, Mikael Ndjoli and Mihai Dobre.
Full-back Brad Smith gained more match minutes.
