Goalkeeper extends contract to 2021 with option of 12-month extension
Thursday 25 October 2018 16:47, UK
Marcus Bettinelli has signed a contract extension at Fulham that takes him up to the summer of 2021.
Sky Sports News reported on Wednesday how the goalkeeper was set for a new contract to recognise his development over the past 12 months.
The new deal also gives the club the option of a 12-month extension.
The 26-year-old - who is a product of Fulham's academy - has re-established himself as No 1 after being omitted from the matchday squad for the club's opening two Premier League matches this season.
His fine form was rewarded with a senior England call-up in September and he was once again included in Gareth Southgate's squad for the latest Nations League matches against Croatia and Spain.
Bettinelli told fulhamfctv: "It's something I've been wanting for a long time now. I'm really happy, it's a proud moment for me and my family, and something that I've worked towards for a long time.
"Thank you to the owners and everyone at the Club for giving me this opportunity to stay here and continue my career at this fantastic football club.
"The fans are a massive reason for me wanting to stay, I know how much they support me and how much they're behind me, and it's fantastic to see that. I know we've had a tough start to the new league, but they've continued to show their support and I'm pretty sure going into Saturday they'll be up and ready for the game."
Head of football operations Tony Khan added: "Marcus Bettinelli has been with Fulham Football Club for the past 12 years, and he's the perfect example as to why our Academy is, and always will be, a focal point of who we are and what we do.
"As everyone knows, we were all able to share the same joy Marcus experienced in goal in May when he kept a clean sheet in our squad's historic Championship Play-Off Final win. While that day was, for so many of us, the best or amongst the best we'd ever experienced, we now look forward to a bright future and many great days ahead in the Premier League.
He has kept 13 clean sheets in 2018 - the fifth most of any goalkeeper in England's top four divisions.
Bettinelli, who has made 105 appearances for Fulham since 2014, had just over two years remaining on his existing deal at Craven Cottage.
