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Ferdinand finally ends speculation (go back to the homepage) LONDON, England (Reuters) -- England central defender Rio Ferdinand has signed a new four-year contract with Manchester United that keeps him at the Premier League club until 2009. The deal ends months of speculation over the future of 26-year-old Ferdinand who had been under contract at Old Trafford for another two years. "It's great news that Rio has agreed a contract," said manager Alex Ferguson who had expressed his frustration last month at the slow speed of talks. "The reality of negotiations today is that they take time. But these have always been conducted in a good spirit and we are very pleased with the outcome." Ferdinand became the world's most expensive defender when he moved to United from Leeds in 2002 for 30 million pounds ($53.61 million). Media reports said the former Leeds United and West Ham United player had asked for 120,000 pounds a week under his new deal, almost certainly making him England's highest-paid player. "I said all along that I wanted to stay at the club and this has now put that issue to bed," said Ferdinand. "I'm looking forward to the start of what I expect will be a great season." The new deal removes a major uncertainty at Old Trafford ahead of the side's first season, starting on Saturday, under new American owner Malcolm Glazer. Cahill stays Everton's Australia international midfielder Tim Cahill on Monday signed a new five-year deal with the Premiership club. The 26-year-old joined for the start of last season and was a key figure in David Moyes' side reaching the qualifying stages of the Champions League. Cahill's form led to him being linked to other clubs, but the former Millwall player has agreed improved terms which will keep him at Everton until the 2009/2010 season. "All the talk that has been going on hasn't helped but we knew we would come to a resolution," Cahill told the club's official website. "It was just a matter of sitting down with the gaffer (manager) and club properly. "It is done now and I am happy and all I can say it is another dream come true, another five years at the club I love and at the one that gave me my chance." Moyes added: "We are pleased because it became a little bit more messy than we expected it to be. Tim was going to be here for the long term anyway but we wanted to make sure he was secured. "He showed throughout last season his value to us and we are just happy we have now got him on a longer term deal." |
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