West Bromwich Albion striker Peter Odemwingie has signed a new three-year contract with the club.
Nigeria international extends stay with West Brom
West Bromwich Albion striker Peter Odemwingie has signed a new three-year contract with the club and will remain at The Hawthorns until the end of the 2013-14 season.
The Premier League side made the announcement on Thursday and added that it is a "new-and-improved" deal.
"Peter Odemwingie has given Albion a huge boost ahead of Saturday's trip to Chelsea (ko 5.30pm) by signing a new-and-improved contract," read a statement on West Brom's
official website.
"The 30-year-old striker this afternoon committed his future to the Baggies until June 2014 by penning a three-year deal."
The Nigeria international, who joined the Baggies on a two-year contract last summer and scored an impressive 15 goals in his debut season in the Premier League, had been linked with a move away from The Hawthorns.
Happy Hodgson
West Brom manager Roy Hodgson himself admitted earlier on Thursday that "Wigan made a bid but it was way way below the valuation" of Odemwingie, but is now delighted to have his star player's future sorted.
"I'm obviously very pleased that Peter has pledged his future to West Bromwich Albion," he enthused on the club's
official website. "I always believed this would be the case and I am grateful to both him and the club for reaching an agreement.
"We can now look forward to benefitting once again from Peter's goal-scoring prowess and seeing him play an important part in our campaign to stay in the Premier League for a second successive season."
Lengthy discussions
Sporting and technical director Dan Ashworth added: "It has been well documented that Peter still had two years left on his previous deal but off the back of his achievements last season, the club wanted to reward him with an improved, longer-term contract
"We have obviously been involved in lengthy discussions with Peter over the summer and I am delighted that they have come to a successful conclusion.
"From the outset, both parties wanted this to happen but, as with any contract, there are always one or two issues to be ironed out
"Peter can now fully focus on showing everyone what a key player he is for West Bromwich Albion and contributing to what we hope will be another successful season."
West Brom finished in mid-table last season and began the new campaign with a 2-1 defeat to champions Manchester United at home on Sunday. They travel to London to confront Chelsea this weekend.
