Wanderers have successfully completed another bit of major summer business by extending the contract of defender George Johnston.
Johnston has signed a new three-year deal at the Toughsheet Community Stadium to keep him with the Whites until June, 2026.
The 24-year-old is set to miss the 2023/24 campaign with a knee injury he sustained in Wanderers’ opening pre-season friendly last month.
Johnston’s existing deal was due to expire next summer but the Whites have moved to secure the future of another of their key players, who has made almost 100 appearances for the club since signing from Feyenoord, via a loan spell at Wigan Athletic, in June, 2021.
Wanderers’ boss Ian Evatt said: “Losing George for the season came as a blow for him and us but we wanted to make sure he’s looked after and can concentrate on his recovery knowing his future is secure.
“He has performed excellently for us in the past two seasons to deserve this new contract and is very much part of our long-term plans.
“We also believe he has scope to keep on improving once he’s back to full fitness and we look forward to having him back as an important part of the squad again in the future.”
Left-sided defender Johnston started 42 games last season, either side of an ankle injury sustained at Charlton Athletic at the end of January, as Evatt’s men reached the League One play-offs and won the Papa Johns Trophy.
The former Liverpool youngster, who has undergone surgery to repair anterior cruciate ligament damage in his left knee, follows team-mates Gethin Jones, Kyle Dempsey, Josh Sheehan and Jon Dadi Bodvarsson in signing new deals this summer as the Whites continue to strengthen their squad going into the new season.
Wanderers have made eight new signings, including adding to their defensive depth ahead of Saturday’s kick-off with the arrivals of Will Forrester, Zac Ashworth and Josh Dacres-Cogley.