Southampton have confirmed that left-back Ryan Bertrand has put pen to paper on a new deal at St. Mary’s.
The 26-year-old made 32 league appearances for Saints last season, returning a WhoScored rating of 6.92.
“Southampton Football Club is delighted to announce that Ryan Bertrand has signed a new five-year-contract,” a statement read on the club’s official website.
“Bertrand has been an integral part of the Saints team since joining from Chelsea in 2014, and is now committed to St Mary’s until 2021.
“The deal represents another step in the club's long-term plan for growth, with the best possible first-team squad to challenge on all fronts.
“Bertrand joins Virgil van Dijk, Fraser Forster, James Ward-Prowse and Steven Davis in agreeing fresh deals at the club in recent months.
“The defender is another example of a young player who has grown at Saints and gone on to represent his country, this summer featuring at a major tournament for the first time.
“The 26-year-old left-back enjoyed another stellar season with Saints in 2015/16, making 34 appearances and helping the team to a club-record sixth-place finish in the Premier League and qualification for the group stages of the UEFA Europa League.
“He was named in the 2014/15 Premier League PFA Team of the Year, and has gone on to make 73 appearances for the club in total, scoring three goals.
Executive Director of Football Les Reed said Bertrand’s deal is just as encouraging as the club’s recent new signings.
He said: "Signing new players is always exciting and we are delighted with our two summer signings so far, Nathan Redmond and Pierre-Emile Højbjerg, who will bring special attributes and strength to our squad. I am equally excited by the commitment shown by our existing stars and those who signed long-term deals last year, thus strengthening the core of the squad.
"Ryan Bertrand has been an integral part of our success since joining in 2014 and has developed as a top Premier League and international player, but he also brings great leadership qualities to the club both on and off the pitch and is a real winner.
"Signing our key players for the long-term is an indication that the squad believes there is more to come and they want to be part of the journey. I know Ryan really believes this, and with him as part of the driving force behind our team I am confident our future is bright.
"Our young players will have an opportunity under our new manager, Claude Puel, but they will also need, and benefit from, the guidance and mentoring from players like Ryan."
Ryan Bertrand said: "I'm very pleased. It's been a fantastic move for me since the day I came to this club and I look forward to many more successful years and really pushing forward.
"I've enjoyed my football here. I've really enjoyed the club, and the fans have been fantastic with me personally as well, so I couldn't think of any better place to play football and to keep on developing.
"The club is always thinking forward and I really want to be a part of that, and I am sure we can go on to achieve even better things.”
The England left-back, who was part of the national set up for Euro 2016, averaged a respectable 2.3 interceptions per league game last season, which ranked joint third of all Saints players.
For more stats on Ryan Bertrand, click here to view his WhoScored player page
