Football
Mike Whalley 9y

Jordan Henderson signs long-term Liverpool contract

Jordan Henderson has signed a new long-term contract with Liverpool, the club have confirmed.

Sources told ESPN FC earlier this week that Henderson, 24, was set to sign a new five-year deal worth £100,000 a week, and he has now put pen to paper.

It ends uncertainty about the future of the midfielder, whose previous deal had 14 months to run.

Henderson told Liverpool's official website: "I'm over the moon that it's finally done.

"There has been talk about it for a while now. It's brilliant news for me to commit my future to this football club -- I really feel that it's a good time for us to look forward to the future, with the squad we've got, the manager, the size of the club and the fans we've got. I really think, over the next few years, we can challenge and start winning trophies.

"That's the next phase. We've improved massively over the last few years, and I think the next phase for us is to start challenging for titles and trophies as well."

Henderson is a contender to become Liverpool's captain when Steven Gerrard leaves for LA Galaxy at the end of the Premier League season. But manager Brendan Rodgers was non-committal when asked if Henderson would get the job, saying: "We shall see."

Rodgers added that Liverpool were keen to continue signing promising young players and then developing their potential.

He said: "The model is to develop young players -- and once they've improved and become better, it's very important that you then nail them to the club and make sure that they're going to be here for the best part of their careers.

"That was the case with Jordan. The club paid big money for him at the time, because he had big potential. That potential has developed.

"He'll go to the next phase of that and become more responsible, while improving his game."

Henderson joined Liverpool from Sunderland in 2011, but struggled to make an impact at first and almost joined Fulham a year later.

Having turned down that offer, though, the England international fought back to establish himself as a regular. He was named vice-captain last September, following the sale of defender Daniel Agger to Brondby.

Manager Brendan Rodgers said: "Jordan is a brilliant professional and his dedication to his career and football in general makes him a role model to all young players.

"He has faced adversity in his time at Liverpool, but his improvement, growth and development is entirely down to his own hunger, commitment and willingness to learn and be better.

"The fact he has made such a long-term commitment to Liverpool is a sign of his belief in what we are looking to do here. He will have a crucial role to play as we look to take this side forward and look to add success to the progress we have made.

"I am very excited about our future and what this group can achieve together; today's announcement is another important positive step forward.

"The owners are committed to creating a team that can grow, improve and ultimately win together. We have seen some very important contract renewals this season and I'm confident, under Ian Ayre's stewardship, we will see further commitments made and more exciting talent secured and added to our squad."

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