Thursday 11 September 2014 08:39, UK
Aston Villa forward Gabriel Agbonlahor has handed the club a boost by signing a new four-year contract.
The 27-year-old, who has won three caps for England, is a key member of Paul Lambert’s side and has been in negotiations with the club over an extension for a number of weeks.
Villa have started the season brightly with seven points from three Premier League games and Agbonlahor is very excited to commit his future to the club he first joined as a schoolboy in 1994.
"It is good news for me to commit my future to the club and play the rest of my best years for Aston Villa," he said.
"It is a four-year deal. That is what the contract provides - it gives me the chance to play for such a big club for the next four years.
"I’ve always said I only wanted to play for one side and that dream has come true.
"It is something that I have always dreamed, to think of staying at a club the size and stature of Aston Villa for the whole of your career.
"I am just delighted. It is great news for me and my family and I think it good news for the club as well and I look forward to repaying their faith in them."
I am just delighted. It is great news for me and my family and I think it good news for the club as well and I look forward to repaying their faith in them.
Agbonlahor made his senior debut for Aston Villa in March 2006 when David O’Leary handed him his debut as a 19-year-old against Everton at Goodison Park.
The club have been through some highs and lows since then but Agbonlahor is happy with how the team is progressing under Paul Lambert and is determined to help Villa improve on last season's 15th-place finish in the Premier League.
"I am happy with my performances throughout my career," he said. "As with any player, you have ups and downs.
"The last few seasons have not been to the level of the previous seasons for different reasons, maybe change of management and players coming and going so it’s not going to be the same all the way through.
"But I am happy with the way I have started the season and I want to continue playing the way I am and hopefully I can continue playing in the side."
Agbonlahor's agent, Tim Webb, commented: "Gabby could have utilised his Bosman status at the end of the season but he never considered that.
"Everyone knows his feeling for the club and he was keen to sign his new contract, demonstrating his loyalty, as has always been the case even when other clubs have come in for him."
