Rising star Adam Wharton has signed his first professional deal with Rovers.

The central midfielder has penned a two-and-a-half year, deal with an option through to 2025, having graduated through the club’s ranks.

A technically gifted left-footed creative force, boyhood Rovers fan Wharton has already shown a great deal of promise, with Rovers pleased to make him the latest Academy to put pen-to-paper on a first-team deal.

The 18-year-old has trained with the first-team this season and made the bench for their FA Cup tie at Wigan Athletic last month.

He has been a key part of the Under-18s’ run to the FA Youth Cup quarter finals and has now established himself as a regular in Mike Sheron’s Under-23s side, with four successive starts.

Much is expected of the current Under-18s crop, with striker Harry Leonard having signed his own professional deal, while central defender Ash Phillips and Jake Batty are others to be earmarked for bright futures and both represented England Under-17s earlier this month.

Wharton will be aiming to follow in the footsteps of older brother Scott who has become an established figure in the first-team set-up having graduated through the club’s ranks.