Dimitri Payet signs new deal with West Ham

Dim Payet has signed a new long-term deal at West Ham, the Premier League club announced last night.

The 28-year-old French playmaker was only seven months into a five-year deal having joined from Marseille for £10.75m (€13.75m) in the summer, but had been a reported £38m (€48.5m) target for an unnamed Chinese club.

Such has been Payet’s impact for the Irons, the east London club moved to ensure he will not be easily lured elsewhere.

A club statement on the club’s website read: “West Ham United are delighted to announce that Dimitri Payet has signed a new long-term contract with the club.

“The outstanding France playmaker has penned a deal until the summer of 2021 and is delighted to have pledged his long-term future to the club.”

West Ham joint-chairman David Sullivan later posted an open letter on the club’s website to welcome Payet’s new deal.

“In line with our normal policy, we review the contracts of players who are doing exceptionally well for the club and reward and extend them when the opportunity arises,” Sullivan said.

“Up to now, Dimitri has been our star player this season.

“His technical ability, his ball skills, his strength, his goals, his assists and his attitude have all combined to give us one of the most exhilarating players I have seen in a West Ham shirt in many, many years.”

In other transfer news, Oscar has insisted he wants to stay at Chelsea and win more trophies with the Blues.

The 24-year-old Brazil playmaker was last week linked with a move to the Chinese Premier League, where the transfer window closes on February 26.

Chelsea dismissed reports that a £57m (€72.9m) bid for Oscar from Jiangsu Suning had been received, and rejected, as speculation.

Oscar is under contract at Stamford Bridge until June 2019. “I want to stay here for a long time,” Oscar said.

“I want to win more games, more trophies, because I love Chelsea, I love the fans. I like the city, my family like it here.

“I don’t have [a reason to] change the club. Everyone likes me here and I’m very happy here.”

Elsewhere, Stoke playmaker Bojan Krkic has signed a new four-and-a-half year contract.

The 25-year-old Spaniard, who joined the Potters in July 2014, has now committed his future to them through to the summer of 2020.

Bojan said: “I am very happy and motivated.

“Stoke City gave me the opportunity to play in the most competitive league in the world, the Premier League, and I have only words of gratitude for their trust and for the way they have treated me since the first day I arrived to England.”