Aston Villa star, Fabian Delph, has signed a contract extension at the club keeping him there until 2019.
The Englishman was out of contract in the Summer and could have been on his way out this month with both Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur interested, but just before their game against Bournemouth in the FA Cup, Villa announced the news that Delph has put pen to paper.
The 25-year-old had this to say on the club’s official website: “The club has given me a great platform to perform and a great opportunity to showcase what I can do.
“The fans have been great with me, the chairman has been absolutely fantastic with me and I have a great relationship with the manager and I see the boys here as my brothers, my family and I am delighted to stay here.
“I am a loyal person and committing my future will hopefully show everybody what type of guy I am.
“I feel like this is me – I love the club, I love being here and I want to put 100% into everything I do here. This is my club and I want to be here. That’s why I am committing my future.
“Hopefully it will give everyone a bit of a lift and show the fans that we are looking to do big things here and bring excitement back to the club.
“We want to get through this season, do well and I feel the up-and-coming years will be big.
“There was no way I was going to bail out. I am here for the long run.
“The fans have been the same. I am sure they will stick with us, help us get through this season and then looking into the future, it looks promising to me.”
Villa boss, Paul Lambert, also revealed how happy he is that the midfield maestro has signed a new deal.
He added: “It’s great for Aston Villa. It’s great for Fabian. I think this is a massive, massive step.
“The thing with modern day football and loyalty is there’s not so much of it – you very rarely get people who stay at a football club for a long, long time.
“Obviously Fabian has been here a fair few years now. His first few years he was injured as a young guy but since I have been here – the three years – he’s been terrific for us. He’s been great. His performances have been excellent.
“When you get someone like Fabian – who might have had the possibility of going elsewhere to pastures new – to have him commit is a massive, massive coup for us.
“No-one expected it. I think everyone thought Fabian was going to go and we would have to get someone else in. I don’t think anyone saw this coming.
“But it’s been something we’ve been trying to do, as I have always said.
“He enjoys his football and being at the club.”
Written by Alex Batt – @AlexBatt – @AlexsArticles
