Liverpool defender Joe Gomez has signed a new five-year deal with the club.
The 21-year-old is currently sidelined through injury, but the Reds have been desperate to secure the England international’s long-term future.
Gomez’s form this season, mostly at centre-back, has been hugely impressive. The Londoner has made 18 appearances in total, forming a formidable partnership with Virgil van Dijk at the heart of Jurgen Klopp’s defence.
Unfortunately, he suffered a fracture to his lower left leg in a tackle with Burnley’s Ben Mee last week and is likely to miss up to six weeks of action.
Liverpool, though, view the former Charlton Athletic man as an integral part of their plans going forward.
Gomez joined the Reds in a £3.5 million (€3.9m/$4.4m) deal in the summer of 2015, impressing during his early months at Anfield before suffering a cruciate ligament injury playing for England’s under-21 team.
That meant he would not feature competitively under Klopp until January 2017. He would make just three appearances during the 2016-17 campaign but would make 31 the following season before an ankle problem sustained again on international duty, this time with the senior England side, halted his progress.
Speaking after penning his contract, which will keep him on Merseyside until 2024, Gomez said:
“There have been a lot of highs and lows, it’s my fourth season now and every one has been different. Obviously, I would like to have had a few less setbacks along the way, but it has all been part of my journey – one that I have loved and embraced. I have learned so much.
“There have been good times on the pitch as well. Hopefully, that can continue. I am learning under a great manager and great coaching staff and have all the tools around me to keep progressing and learning. I am looking forward to it.
“All the signs show where the club is heading, where our team is heading,” he added. “We got so close last year in the European competition and in the league this year, we’ve shown such good character in the start to the season so far.
“[It’s] our best start ever as a club, so that shows if there is ever a time to have belief in the club and where we’re going, it is now.”
Gomez is the latest in a long line of Liverpool players to commit their long-term futures to the club, following in the footsteps of Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane and Jordan Henderson in recent months.