Football
Stephan Uersfeld, Germany correspondent 8y

Bayern Munich defender David Alaba signs a three-year contract extension

David Alaba has signed a three-year contract extension at Bayern Munich, committing him to the Allianz Arena until 2021.

Alaba, 23, had been under contract at Bayern until 2018, and earlier this week reports claimed that the Austria international is set to prolong his stay amid rumoured interest from outgoing coach Pep Guardiola's new club Manchester City.

However, the versatile defender, who has also made several appearances in midfield under Guardiola, has now confirmed he will stay at the club where he has been since he was 16 years old.

"I'm very happy and grateful that I can continue playing for the best club in the world," he told the club's official website. "There's a lot I want to achieve here in the years to come and I'll continue to give my best for FC Bayern."

Alaba joined Bayern from his hometown club Austria Vienna in 2008, and debuted under former coach Louis van Gaal in the 2009-10 season. He has made 127 Bundesliga appearances for the Bavarians, and a further 17 for Hoffenheim, where he spent the second half of the 2010-11 season on loan.

The club's CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said: "David Alaba is a homgrown player, that's why we are extremely pleased about his signature until 2021. He is one of the players, who today give our team its face. On and off the pitch he embodies FC Bayern. He will be cornerstone of our team in the years to come."

Jan-Christian Dreesen, the Bayern finance executive, highlighted that the Bavarians have now managed to tie the "next important player for the future of the club" to a new contract after already prolonging the contracts of Thomas Muller, Jerome Boateng, Javi Martinez and Thiago Alcantara during the ongoing season.

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