Cliftonville striker Joe Gormley has declared Levi Ives the best left-back in the Irish League after the talented 24-year-old agreed a new contract to stay at Solitude.
Ives, who joined the Reds after leaving Torquay United in 2015, has signed a deal that will keep him with the North Belfast club until 2025.
Last season, the full-back helped Paddy McLaughlin’s men lift the BetMcLean League Cup and secure a runners-up finish in the league, one point behind Linfield.
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Ives’ new contract has been warmly welcomed by Cliftonville fans and his teammates, including record goal scorer Gormley who tweeted: “What a signing and what a guy. Best in league.”
Skipper Chris Curran also took to social media to hail Ives, who wore the armband in his absence last season, as a future club captain.
Curran tweeted: “Couldn’t ask for a better team mate. Great player, top man and I’m sure future Cliftonville captain.”
Cliftonville chairman Paul McKeown was delighted to agree terms on a deal that ensures Ives will be playing in a red shirt for “many years to come”.
He also praised the defender for showing the mental resilience to bounce back from two metatarsal injuries in September 2019 and the following season.
McKeown told the Cliftonville website: “After the injury problems that struck him down for a couple of years, it was great to see Levi Ives back to his best last season when he was arguably better than we’ve ever seen before.
“He had a really strong year full of committed, influential performances, great defensive work, exciting forays forward and his fair share of eye-catching goals.
“Levi is a player who has always given Cliftonville his all and we’re very pleased indeed that we’ll be seeing him in a Red shirt for many years to come.”
Ives, who was recently named in the 2021/22 Danske Bank Premiership team of the year, has made 226 appearances for the club since making his debut in October 2015.
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