Queens Park Rangers midfielder Ilias Chair has signed a new four-and-a-half-year deal with the club, which will keep him in West London until 2025.
The new deal puts to bed any rumours of a move away from QPR – most notably, Watford were interested in doing a deal for the Morocco U23 international.
QPR also have the option to extend the deal by a further year.
Ilias Chair Signs New QPR Deal
🪑2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣5️⃣
𝗜𝗹𝗶𝗮𝘀 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗶𝗿 has signed a new contract with #QPR until 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱!
— QPR FC (@QPR) January 29, 2021
What Was Said?
Speaking to the club website, Chair said: “I’m very happy – my family is happy, my friends are happy, everyone is happy for me.
“I think it’s what the fans deserve and what the club deserves from my part.
“The club has given me everything from day one. I came in as a young 19-year-old boy and now, I’m still young, but I’ve grown so much in those four years.
“I’m absolutely delighted for the fans as well that young players like me are committing to the club for a very long time. They play such a big part because they support me every single game.
“Ups and down happen in a season but the fans are always behind me and they give me that confidence to keep going.”
R’s manager Mark Warburton added: “Ilias is obviously a talented player – he’s stepped up.
“He had his loan spell at Stevenage previously and went through a developmental phase last season.
“This year, he is more established. Ilias was handed the number 10 shirt in pre-season and we had some frank discussions about what it meant, and the responsibilities that come with the short at QPR.
“However, he has embraced that challenge and done very well.”
Career So Far
Born in Belgium, Chair started his youth career at Club Brugge and also represented JMG Academy Belgium and Lierse S.K. at youth level.
He made his professional debut at Lierse and played two games for them overall before undergoing a successful trial at QPR.
After a prolific loan spell in League Two with Stevenage, Chair returned to West London and has become a staple in the QPR side this season.
The performances he has been turning in have caught the attention of those higher up in the Championship, and if his rise continues, it won’t be long before Premier League suitors come calling either.
Main Photo
