Phil Jagielka signs four-year contract with Everton

Jagielka has been capped seven times by England

Everton defender Phil Jagielka has signed a new four-year contract with the Merseyside club.

The deal will keep the 28-year-old England international at Goodison Park until 2015, replacing his existing agreement which expired in 2014.

Jagielka said:"I can concentrate on the football and hopefully there are exciting times (ahead)."

The Sale-born player joined Everton in 2007 and has made 117 first team appearances for the Toffees.

He won Everton player of the year in the 2008/09 season, despite suffering a serious knee injury in the second half of that term.

"I'm really pleased," he added. "We had talks a while ago and I knew it would only be a case of getting it signed and sealed, and you can tell by the smile on my face that I am absolutely delighted to commit my future to Everton.

"I had a little while left on my last one but it is obviously nice to get a new one," he added.

Jagielka, who started his career at Sheffield United, has attracted interest in a number of other clubs, notably Arsenal - who reportedly had an offer for him rebuffed last summer.