Rio Ferdinand's son Lorenz signs first pro contract with Premier League club as 'proud moment' shared by family

Rio Ferdinand’s oldest son has signed a professional contract with a Premier League club – and it’s not Manchester United.

Rio, 46, is widely regarded as one of the best English centre-backs of his time alongside John Terry.

During his playing days, he represented clubs such as West Ham United, Leeds United and most notably Manchester United, with whom he won 14 major trophies, as well as having a short stint at QPR before hanging up his boots in 2015.

These days, the 46-year-old regularly works as a pundit and podcast host, having previously worked for TNT Sports, providing coverage on Champions League nights.

But away from the public eye, Rio is also a father to five children.

Rio and wife Kate share kids Cree and Shae while the former defender also has three children – Lorenz, Tate and Tia – from his previous marriage to Rebecca Ellison, who died from cancer in 2015.

The oldest of the five, Lorenz, 19, is a keen footballer and recently penned his first professional contract with Premier League side Brighton and Hove Albion.

Lorenz previously enjoyed a stint at Southern League Premier side Havant and Waterlooville in March on a work experience deal.

The 19-year-old has also featured for Brighton at Under 18 and 21 level and will, no doubt, be hoping to make the step up to the senior team in the coming years.

On Monday (August 4), Rio and Kate collaborated on an Instagram post to congratulate the teenager on his achievement.

A caption read: “Very proud moment for the family, Lorenz signing his first professional contract. We are all so proud of you.”

Meanwhile, Lorenz also took to Instagram, posting several snaps of himself signing his contract.

“Happy to sign my first professional contract @officialbhafc,” he wrote.

Several of Rio’s former teammates also offered words of support, including Phil Neville.

Former Ajax, Fulham and Man United ‘keeper Edwin van der Sar wrote: “Come on, Lorenz and become the GK that you always wanted to be! Good luck and safe hands!”

Rio once opened about how his children don’t respond well to his footballing advice despite his many achievements in the game.

Speaking to the Independent in June, Rio said: “Even though I played, when I told them about football when they were 12, 13, 14 years old, they were like ‘What do you know?’"

He added: “They were listening to their football coach – who’d never played a league game in his life or been a professional – and coming in and saying ‘But so-and-so said this dad’.

“Because you’re the parent, they see too much of you sometimes, so they don’t want to hear it.”