Manchester United Inks Wayne Rooney To 4-Year Contract Extension Through 2019

Putting an end to any speculation that his time at Old Trafford was coming to an end, longtime Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney signed a four-year extension Friday with the defending Barclays Premier League champions, keeping him with the English giants until 2019. The 28-year-old Liverpool native has been linked with a departure from United in the past but with the club looking to upgrade the midfield position via outside signings while also holding on to proven assets, Man U higher-ups and head coach David Moyes were extremely happy to reach an agreement with one of the top players in the game.

Currently seventh in the competitive Premier League standings, the Red Devils won’t be able to repeat as league champions but the club still has their sights set on a top four finish in the standings, a result that would grant them a place in the 2014-2015 UEFA Champions League. Sitting 11 points south of fourth place Liverpool, the task of finishing in the first four will certainly be tough but looking forward to the coming seasons, David Moyes knows that a higher success rate will remain at Old Trafford with Wayne Rooney sticking around for at least four more seasons.

“Wayne has been the best player in England since I put him into the Everton first team in 2003,” the first-year United boss said. “Since becoming United manager in July last year, I have enjoyed working with him and seeing just how he has developed his incredible talent. With his ability, his experience and his desire to succeed, he is a vital part of my plans for the future and I'm absolutely thrilled he has accepted the challenge. I said last July that Wayne has an outstanding chance to be a true legend of this club's long and rich history. These are really exciting times for everyone connected with the club.”

In 21 league contests this season for Manchester United, the 5’10, 175-pound striker has registered 9 goals and 9 assists but his efforts simply have not been enough to catapult the Red Devils up the BPL table. Though the 2013-2014 league campaign has not gone according to plan, Rooney said Friday that he’s happy to remain at Old Trafford due to his love for the fans and the excitement he holds for helping the club succeed in the future.

“In August I will have been at the club for 10 years and during that time I have played with some fantastic players and won everything that I hoped I would when I first signed,” he said. “I now have the chance as one of the club's senior players to help the younger players coming through and to be a part of another great United team. The fans have always been a huge part of this club and the support they have given me since my debut against Fenerbahce has been amazing. I am really excited to be a part of the club's future and want to thank David Moyes and Ed Woodward for their belief and support in me. I am convinced that this is the start of another successful chapter in Manchester United's history.”