England Under-21 defender Tyler Blackett has signed a new two-and-a-half year contract with Manchester United.
His deal with the club was supposed to end this summer, but after impressing Louis van Gaal in his first season of senior football, the defender has earned a new contract which will keep him at Old Trafford until at least June 2017, with an option to extend for a further year.
Schooled at the club’s youth academy, the 20-year-old was a regular feature in the Manchester United backline in the early part of the campaign, when most of their senior defenders were out with injuries and impressed with his performances both at centre half and sometimes as a full-back.
Van Gaal, who is known for nurturing young talents wherever he goes, is happy that Blackett has committed to a new deal with the club and said that Manchester United is the right place for him to further develop as a defender.
"I am delighted that Tyler has signed a new contract. He is another young player that has risen through the academy system to break into the first-team squad this season”, the Dutchman told the club’s official site.
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“Tyler has great potential and I believe he is at the right club to continue his development and progression to become a great defender."
Blackett, who is a local boy, expressed his delight at extending his stay with his boyhood club and said that he is keen to prove his worth for the Red Devils in the future with the help of the support staff at Old Trafford.
"I'm thrilled to have signed my new contract. I have supported United all my life and have been here since I was eight years old”, the youngster added.
“To come through the academy and make my debut this season was a dream come true.
“I want to keep improving within the first-team squad with the help of the manager, coaches and the players around me."
He has made 20 appearances for the club since his debut against Swansea City on the opening day of the season at Old Trafford.
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