Brighton & Hove Albion Defender James Furlong has extended his contract with the club until June 2025.
The 21-year-old Dublin native originally joined the club's academy in 2019 after leaving Irish club Shamrock Rovers. He made his first-team debut last August, coming on as a substitute in the Carabao Cup match against Forest Green Rovers, which ended in a 3-0 victory.
In January, Furlong embarked on a loan spell with Scottish Premiership club Motherwell for the latter half of the previous season, accumulating 16 appearances. The experience proved valuable for his development as he gained exposure to first-team football.
Shannon Ruth, the head coach of the Under-21s, expressed delight in Furlong's decision to commit to the club for another two years. Ruth noted Furlong's progress since joining the under-21 program and highlighted the significance of his loan spell at Motherwell.
We’re delighted to announce that defender James Furlong has signed a new contract with the club until June 2025. 🤝
— Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) July 13, 2023
Furlong played a prominent role in their team, contributing to their strong finish to the season. Ruth emphasised that this experience was crucial for Furlong's career at this stage.
“We’re really pleased that James has committed himself to the club for two more years," Ruth said.
“He has progressed well over the past two years since stepping up into our under-21 programme and then he had a really valuable loan at Motherwell earlier this year where he got his first exposure to first team football.
“He featured heavily in their team as they finished the season strongly. This was an important experience at this stage of his career.
“He will be looking to ensure that the new season is just as positive as the last and that he continues to progress.”
