diff --git a/.gitlab/merge_request_templates/Merge_Request.md b/.gitlab/merge_request_templates/Merge_Request.md
index 8f4d93db247c7353317994bf5ba54d75830e09bb..cf2214fd8f235e57315ec19996ee2c5512555f51 100644
--- a/.gitlab/merge_request_templates/Merge_Request.md
+++ b/.gitlab/merge_request_templates/Merge_Request.md
@@ -9,4 +9,9 @@ These are the most common things requested on pull requests (PRs).
  - [ ] `README.md` is updated
  - [ ] `LICENSE.md` is updated with new contributors
 
-/cc @ghenry @venkat.malladi
\ No newline at end of file
+
+* [ ] **Close issue**\
+Closes #
+
+/cc @ghenry @venkat.malladi
+/assign @ghenry
\ No newline at end of file