Shaw signs extended Southampton contract

Southampton left-back Luke Shaw has signed a new five-year contract with the club on his 18th birthday.

Shaw committed his future to the St Mary’s Stadium outfit in January amid reported interest from Chelsea, and has now further affirmed his desire to stay by penning a deal that ties him to the club until 2018.

After making his debut against West Brom in November, the England Under-19 international became a mainstay under Nigel Adkins and latterly his replacement, Mauricio Pochettino.

Shaw made 25 Premier League appearances in total last season as the south-coast club finished 14th in the English top flight.

“I’m very pleased to have finally signed it,” he told the club’s official website. “I committed myself back in January, and I’m glad everything has been sorted out.

“I’ve been here since I was eight and I’ve loved every single moment of it. I want to stay at this club, and signing this contract means I’m here for another five years.

“The players, the staff, the medical team and the fitness coaches have all helped me come this far.

“The manager has done a lot for me – especially for my fitness – and this year is going to be a big year for me.

“I’ve come back very, very fit and better than last season, so I can’t wait to get started.”

Pochettino was delighted with the deal and hopes to keep Shaw in his plans for many years to come.

He added: “This news merely confirms what we have known for some time – that Luke sees Southampton as the best place for him to develop.

“Luke made a tremendous impact during his first season as a professional, and he is still growing and improving with each game he plays and every training session he takes part in.

“It is very clear that he has a huge future ahead of him, and we are delighted that he shares our vision for his growth over the next few years.

“We hope that Luke’s new contract will bring to an end any remaining speculation about his future, and that he can now focus fully on what promises to be an exciting season.”