Ballymena United have secured Ryan Waide on a new longterm contract after the versatile forward penned a two-year extension until 2024.
Waide, who scored four goals for the Sky Blues last season, is approaching his second season on the Braid after signing for the Warden Street club last summer.
Earlier this week, the 21-year-old was named in Northern Ireland’s U21 squad to face Malta and Slovakia in Euro 2021 qualifiers on September 3 and 7.
United boss David Jeffrey paid tribute to Waide who has resurrected his career after the promise he showed as a teenager at Linfield was derailed by a serious car accident in April 2018.
He also broke his wrist on his return to action for the Blues in the summer of 2018 and went on to spend loan spells with Ards, Carrick and Dungannon Swifts before joining Ballymena.
“Ryan endured a horrific time after such a bright start as a youngster, first with a car crash and then immediately breaking a bone on his return,” said Jeffrey.
“But we always knew his potential and he fits into the mould we look for here at Ballymena - young, talented and ready to bust a gut to realise his full potential, sometimes against adversity.
“While we may have given Ryan the opportunity at Ballymena, it was up to him to grab it and he has done that with his performances over the past year.
“You can also see from his recent call ups to the Northern Ireland U21 squad that he is working hard and really seizing his opportunities.
“What is most pleasing is that it took less than five minutes to agree to extend his time here. It is tremendous when a player shows such willingness to commit to the club.”
Waide scored on his Northern Ireland U21 debut in a 3-2 summer friendly defeat to Scotland in Dumbarton in June.
