Arsenal defender Hector Bellerin has signed a long-term contract extension to end speculation over his future.
The Spain international, 21, had been heavily linked with a return to former side Barcelona, while Pep Guardiola was reportedly interested in taking him to Manchester City.
The agreement for Bellerin comes as a major boost to Arsenal, who are also locked in renewal negotiations with star players Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez, both of whom are out of contract in 2018.
I m really, really happy and this club is my home right now, Bellerin told Arsenal Player. I ve been here for more than five years now so I was really, really excited when the club told me that they wanted to extend my contract.
I wasn t thinking about anything else other than staying here and continuing my development here. This is where I m happy. I m just very grateful and pleased to have signed.
Now I ve just got to keep on progressing, keep working hard to be the best player I can be, and hopefully help the team to be where its got to be, to win some silverware.
That s what everyone wants and that s what I’m working towards.
Bellerin joined Arsenal s academy from Barca in 2011 and made his debut in September 2013.
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Following a loan spell at Watford, the right-back established himself in the Gunners first-team from the 2014-15 campaign and was named in the PFA Team of the Year last season.
Bellerin was an ever-present in the 2016-17 Premier League, until suffering an ankle injury on international duty with Spain s Under-21 team earlier this month. He missed Saturday s 1-1 draw with Manchester United and is expected to spend four weeks on the sidelines.
