Middlesbrough secure future of U21 defender Wheater
David Wheater has agreed a new contract with Middlesbrough
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Friday, 29, Feb 2008 02:36
Middlesbrough defender David Wheater has signed a new three-and-a-half-year contract that will keep him at the club until at least the summer of 2011.
The England under-21 centre-back, who has been impressive at the heart of the Boro back-four this season, is a Teesside native and is regarded as one of the most promising talents in the Premier League.
Wheater's form this season even prompted manager Gareth Southgate to allow star centre-back Jonathan Woodgate to leave for Tottenham Hotspur in the summer.
And the 21-year-old said it is "fantastic" to have secured his future at the Riverside Stadium.
"I'm just glad the contract's all sorted and I can just get on with my football now," he told the club's official website.
"I'm very happy with the deal, it's what I wanted and it keeps me on my toes to get another one after that."
On the negotiations themselves, Wheater said he had largely distanced himself from the fundamental details.
"I've stayed out of the way and let my agent and my dad do it all," the youngster continued.
"I didn't want to get involved, I just wanted to keep playing well in the team. I knew if I got involved it would play on my mind so I stayed out of the way and I'm very happy."