Manchester United defender Chris Smalling has signed a new contract to keep him at Old Trafford until June 2019.
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The announcement effectively ends speculation linking him with a move to Arsenal in the summer, as reported in The Daily Telegraph last month.
England international Smalling has won two Premier League medals during his time with the Red Devils and made 147 appearances, scoring nine goals in the process.
The 25-year-old joined the club from Fulham in January 2010 with Arsenal also said to have bid for him at the time too but, like now, were unable to convince him to head to the Emirates.
United boss Louis van Gaal said to ManUtd.com:
“Chris has improved and developed immensely during the short time that I have been at the club.
“He has become an integral part of the first team squad. I am delighted he has signed a new contract.”
Smalling began his professional career at Millwall and featured for non-league side Maidstone United before joining Fulham in 2008.
The centre-back has so far made 16 caps for the England national side having made his debut in 2011 following his move to Old Trafford.
“I’m delighted to sign my new contract. I am so proud to play for such a great club. We have developed as a team over the course of the season under Louis van Gaal and we are now playing as a complete unit,” said Smalling of the new contract.
“This is a very exciting time to be at Manchester United. We are all determined to get back to where we belong and competing at the highest level.”
The defender then took to Twitter to celebrate his new deal:
Proud and honoured to sign a new deal at the club. This is an exciting time for everyone at United… https://t.co/HkYIAnG7yA — Chris Smalling (@ChrisSmalling) April 21, 2015
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