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Bale signs new Spurs deal

Gareth Bale: 'The club are progressing and I want to be part of that' © Getty Images

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Gareth Bale has brought an end to speculation over his future by signing a new contract at Tottenham Hotspur until 2016.

The Wales international was reportedly weighing up his options after Tottenham failed to secure Champions League qualification for next season.

His agent, Jonathan Barnett, said earlier this month that a lack of Champions League football was "clearly a problem", and Spanish giants Barcelona and Real Madrid were believed to be interested in the 22-year-old.

But Bale has now given managerless Tottenham, who are expected to appoint Andre Villas-Boas as boss in the near future, a significant vote of confidence by putting pen to paper.

Bale joined Tottenham from Southampton in 2007 and has emerged as one of the world's leading left wingers. He was named in the PFA Premier League Team of the Year in each of the last two campaigns, and was crowned the PFA Player of the Year in 2011.

"I've been here for five years now and I've enjoyed every minute," Bale told Tottenham's official website. "The fans have been great to me and I'd love to repay them and do the very best for them. The club are progressing and I want to be a part of that, so it was great to get the deal done.

"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 played 160 games in a Tottenham Hotspur shirt, finding the back of the net on 29 occasions.

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