Niemi signs new Hearts deal

The new deal will keep the Finnish shot-stopper at Tynecastle until the summer of 2006.

The former Rangers keeper has attracted the interest of Charlton, but Niemi is happy to stay at Hearts and the new deal should see him end his career at the capital club.

Niemi admitted that with his family have settled in Edinburgh and that he did not want to uproot them and move to another club.

"It was an easy decision for me to make," Niemi told the club's official website. "It's not only about the money for me anymore.

"I have a young family and a wife here who are enjoying their lives in Edinburgh.

"These things are more important than a few thousand pounds a week.

"I feel like the coaching staff appreciate my work and the fans have been great, so I am really looking forward to the next four years."

Niemi has established himself as one of the best keepers in Britain since joining Hearts in 1999 after finding himself out-of-favour at Ibrox.

"I was more or less in Rangers' reserves when I joined Hearts," said Niemi.

"Since then it's been going really well - I've played quite a few games and managed to keep any contenders behind me so far."

Hearts boss Craig Levein was delighted to have secured the future of Niemi, who he regarded as the side's best player.

"I think that it is no secret that Antti has probably been our best and most consistent player since I've been at the club," said Levein.

"He's hardly missed a match and his level of performance seems to be getting better every year.

"So I think it's a tremendous piece of news for me as a coach that someone of Antti's quality will be with us for the next four years."