James Milner signs Liverpool FC contract extension

Ref:liverpoolfc.com

James Milner today signed a new contract extension with Liverpool FC to prolong his successful spell at Anfield beyond five seasons.

The No.7, who joined the Reds on a free transfer in the summer of 2015, put pen to paper at Melwood this afternoon after agreeing fresh terms.

Milner has made 198 appearances for the club to date, scoring 25 goals and featuring in five cup finals, including June’s European Cup triumph in Madrid.

Appointed vice-captain shortly after his arrival, he was integral to Liverpool’s return to Champions League football under Jürgen Klopp, their back-to-back final appearances in the past two seasons, and the 97-point league campaign last term.

But the midfielder feels there is much more to accomplish – and is therefore delighted to confirm a new deal that ensures he can continue to contribute.

“I’ve been lucky and privileged to play for this club for four-and-a-half years now, it has been an amazing time seeing how the club is changing and developing,” Milner told Liverpoolfc.com.

“I just enjoy coming into training every day, working with this group of players, this manager and coaching staff, and being part of this football club.

“We had discussions with the club and this was obviously the ideal for me, this was what I wanted to do – stay and play at the highest level as long as I can.

“Liverpool is an unbelievable place to be and we’re a very, very good football team and hopefully we can keep improving.

“Obviously the gaffer waited to sign his dependent on whether I signed mine, so that makes me a feel bit more important!”

Milner has played 21 times so far this season as the Reds have opened up an eight-point lead at the top of the Premier League and progressed to the Champions League last 16.

And with a tilt at the FIFA Club World Cup coming up next week, too, he is immediately focused on securing more additions to the Liverpool trophy cabinet.

“Obviously winning a trophy last year, it’s easy to sit back or take your foot off the gas, and we’ve gone the other way,” said the 33-year-old.

“There’s a long, long way to go now, we know that, no-one is getting ahead of themselves. Again, that’s a massive strength of the squad, we take it a game at a time and concentrate on one at a time.

“But you can see the drive in the squad to keep pushing and to try to play at the intensity that we play at every couple of days, which we are at the moment. That’s testament to everyone in and around the club, all the work everybody does at Melwood and the mental attitude and strength that we have to keep going and pushing again.

“Like I said, there’s a long, long way to go, but we’ll keep striving to keep improving and getting success for this club.”