Manchester United have moved to secure the services of influential midfielder Paul Scholes who has signed a four-year extension to his current contract.
The 30-year-old former England international has been a crucial member of Sir Alex Ferguson's squad throughout his career at Old Trafford and will remain at the club until 2009.
Scholes, who retired from international football last year, has made 321 Premiership appearances for United and is expected to be involved in Saturday's opener at Everton.
Ferguson admitted the hard-working midfielder with the goal-scoring touch had been a key player at the club.
"Paul has given us 16 great years of service," said Ferguson.
"We hope his next four years is as good as his last four years. He has deserved our loyalty because he has given us plenty back."
Scholes famously missed the 1999 Champions League final through suspension but has been involved in all United's other major triumphs over the past decade, picking up six Premier League titles.
He has also won three FA Cups, although he did miss the crucial penalty in the shoot-out defeat to Arsenal last May.