Evra pens Red Devils deal

Patrice Evra has signed a new four-year contract with Premier League champions Manchester United.

Full-back set to stay until 2012

Patrice Evra has signed a new four-year contract with Premier League and European champions Manchester United. The French international joined the Red Devils in January 2006 from French giants Monaco and has proven to be an astute piece of business for Sir Alex Ferguson. A reported £5.5million transfer fee now looks a snip for a player who has settled into Premier League life. His current deal at Old Trafford was due to run for another year, but with the club keen to avoid a potentially hazardous situation which could see him move elsewhere they have now tied him down until 2012. Ferguson is delighted to have seen the full-back put pen to paper, and expects him to progress even further in the future. "Patrice has been a key part of the Club's success in the last two seasons," the United boss told the club's official website. "He's developed into one of the best full-backs in world football and his infectious personality has helped build the incredible team spirit that exists at Old Trafford."

Proud

Evra, who is currently on Euro 2008 duty with France, also expressed his pleasure at being given the opportunity to prolong his time in England. "It's a pleasure and an honour to be part of this fantastic side and to be coached by Sir Alex Ferguson and his staff," he said. "United is more than a club - it's a family I am proud to be a part of and that's why it's always been a first choice for me. "I declared when I arrived that I was coming here not just to play but to win, and United is the ideal place to realise such a dream. "It's a privilege to play in front of our fantastic fans and I'm sure the success we've earned in the last two seasons confirms the history of this club and will be the start of something even more special."