Gareth Bale has signed a new four-year contract at Tottenham Hotspur until 2016.
The 22-year-old's future was the subject of much speculation when his agent stated it was a "problem" for the Welshman that he wasn't playing in the Champions League. However Bale has doused any fears he may leave Spurs by inking a new deal.
He told the club website: “I’ve been here for five years now and I’ve enjoyed every minute. The fans have been great to me and I’d love to re-pay them and do the very best for them. The Club is progressing and I want to be a part of that, so it was great to get the deal done.
"I love the Club and the fans and I want to play my part in trying to get us back into the Champions League - where we belong. We’ve a good, young squad and we need to work together to get back on the biggest stage again."
Bale has been an integral part of the Lilywhites for two years since he was entrusted with the left-wing slot by Harry Redknapp, despite ironically starting out his Tottenham career in the same position under Martin Jol.
He scored 12 times for Tottenham last season and was included in the PFA Team of the Year for the campaign.
Signed for £5m from Southampton when he was just 17 in 2007, Bale produced an excellent debut at Old Trafford but his debut Premier League campaign was cut short by injury during a home defeat to Birmingham City in December.
Bale never played in a league win for the club until the 25th time of asking in September 2009, when he arrived as an 85th minute substitute at White Hart Lane in a 5-0 win over Burnley.
Yet from 2010 onwards he has become a fixture in the side and in 2011 was named the PFA Player of the Year, while he has been named in the PFA Team of the Year the past two seasons.
He has made 160 appearances for the club and scored 29 goals in his five years at White Hart Lane.
