Aston Villa midfielder Ashley Westwood has committed his long-term future to the club, by agreeing a new five-year contract with the Premier League team.
The 25-yer-old has become a crucial part of the Villa set up since arriving in a £2million transfer from nearby League One side Crewe Alexandra, back in 2012.
The new contract has the potential to keep Westwood at Villa Park up to and further than 2020, as he looks to add the the 103 appearances he has already amassed for the club.
Delighted to sign a new deal
Upon signing his new deal, Westwood said that he was "extremely pleased" to have got his future sorted, so that he can continue playing for the club.
He's glad that he'll be able to competing at a high level for what he describes as "the peak years" of his career, and "looks forward" to spending them at Villa.
Finally, Westwood expressed his happiness at being at the club, and explained that he had "been made welcome from the moment he walked through the door".
What next for Westwood?
For now, Westwood will be hoping to help Villa continue their good form against Manchester United on Friday. He played a starring role in their opening win against Bournemouth last Saturday, assisting Rudy Gestede's winning goal with a corner.
There had been doubt over whether the midfielder would be given a starting place this season, after the signings of Jordan Veretout and Idrissa Gueye.
His manager, Tim Sherwood, clearly hasn't forgotten about the player's many talents, after starting him against Bournemouth and insisting that it would take a "special player" to push him out of the team.
It appears to have rang true, with Westwood playing against Bournemouth in a midfield triangle, alongide both Veretout and Gueye, rather than with them replacing him.