Jordan Henderson signs new long-term deal with EPL giants Liverpool

ENGLAND midfielder Jordan Henderson has signed a new long-term contract with English Premier League club Liverpool.

ENGLAND midfielder Jordan Henderson has signed a new long-term contract with English Premier League club Liverpool, which is believed to be a five-year deal.

The 24-year-old has become a key player for manager Brendan Rodgers over the past two years and is expected to take over as captain when Steven Gerrard leaves at season end for LA Galaxy. Liverpool did not reveal the value of Henderson’s new contract, but British media reports suggested it was around STG100,000 ($A194,000) a week.

“I’m over the moon that it’s finally done. There has been talk about it for a while now,”

Jordan Henderson takes a corner during the English Premier League.

Henderson, whose previous contract was due to expire next year, told the Liverpool website.

“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 arrived from Sunderland in 2011 in a deal worth around STG20 million ($A38.75 million), since making 180 appearances for Liverpool and scoring 20 goals.

He was offered an opportunity to join Fulham when Rodgers was appointed manager in 2012, but elected to fight for a place and went on to become a central figure in the team that narrowly missed out on last season’s league title.

“Jordan is a brilliant professional and his dedication to his career and football in general makes him a role model to all young players,” said Rodgers, who made Henderson his vice-captain last September.

“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.” Henderson, capped 20 times by England, follows teammates Philippe Coutinho and Daniel Sturridge in pledging his long-term future to Liverpool.

But contract talks with Raheem Sterling have reached an impasse, with the 20-year-old forward — whose contract expires in 2017 — revealing recently he has rejected a new offer worth STG100,000 a week.

Originally published as Jordan Henderson signs new long-term deal with EPL giants Liverpool