FOOTBALL : Fulham centre-back Brede Hangeland has ended speculation about a January move from Craven Cottage by signing a new thee-and-a-half-year contract.
Fulham centre-back Brede Hangeland has ended speculation about a January move from Craven Cottage by signing a new thee-and-a-half-year contract.
Norway captain Hangeland has become one of the league’s most coveted defenders since his arrival from FC Copenhagen last year, with Arsenal the club most frequently linked with him.
But the 28-year-old has now committed himself to the Cottagers until the summer of 2013.
Hangeland told the club’s official website, www.fulhamfc.co.uk: “I am delighted to have just signed a new deal and hope that this will now end months of speculation about my future.
“I have always maintained that I am happy at Fulham and committed to doing everything I can to ensure ongoing success of the team. It’s great to see that the club has made great progress since I first joined in January 2008 which has seen the highest ever finish for the team in the club’s 130-year history at the end of last season.
“This is a testament to everyone involved at the club including the manager and chairman who is dedicated to the Club.”
Manager Roy Hodgson, who is himself on the verge of agreeing an extended deal having already verbally agreed terms, said: “I am delighted that Brede has been justly rewarded with a new deal and that he has committed his future to Fulham until 2013.
“He is an extremely important player for us and a model professional, so we are all very happy that he will be at Fulham for the long term. I would also like to thank the chairman for again showing his dedication to the club he has invested so much in, by offering this new deal.
“We have some very important games coming up and this news will give a boost to everyone here, so we’ll focus on Bolton this weekend, and I know the fans will show their appreciation.”
