Bale signs new four-year deal

Tottenham ace Gareth Bale has penned a new contract at White Hart Lane to keep him at the club until 2016 and silence speculation over his future.

Rumours surrounding the Wales international have again been rife this summer, with Barcelona and Real Madrid among the clubs thought to have the 22-year-old on their radar.

His future was cast into further doubt when manager Harry Redknapp was sacked by the club earlier this month.

But Bale has committed his long-term future to Spurs after signing a new four-year deal in North London.

The Welshman told Tottenham’s official website: “I’ve been here for five years now and I’ve enjoyed every minute. The fans have been great to me and I’d love to re-pay them and do the very best for them. The Club is progressing and I want to be a part of that, so it was great to get the deal done.

Spurs finished fourth in the Premier League last season but missed out on UEFA Champions League football after Chelsea won the trophy.

Bale, 22, is determined to help get the club back into Europe’s top club competition.

He added: “I love the Club and the fans and I want to play my part in trying to get us back into the Champions League – where we belong. We’ve a good, young squad and we need to work together to get back on the biggest stage again.”

Bale has become a fans’ favourite at White Hart Lane since establishing himself in the first-team under Redknapp at the start of 2010.

The winger, who arrived in North London from Southampton in the summer of 2007, aged 17, has made a total of 160 appearances for the club, scoring 29 goals.