Premiership: Keane agrees new United deal

Manchester United skipper Roy Keane has agreed terms on a four-year contract which will keep him at Old Trafford until June 2006.

The announcement comes only two days after Sir Alex Ferguson signed his new contract to stay as United manager until 2005.

Keane said in a statement released by the club: ‘‘I am delighted to be staying at United and I am looking forward to enjoying even more success with the team over the next few years.’’

The 30-year-old Republic of Ireland captain added: ‘‘I would like to thank the club and my solicitor, Michael Kennedy, for making the whole process of negotiating my new contract go so smoothly.’’

Ferguson welcomed the new deal and said: ‘‘This is great news.

‘‘Roy is an unbelievable player whose leadership, passion and drive epitomise the best qualities of Manchester United. I am really pleased to have Roy on board for another four years.’’

United chief executive Peter Kenyon said: ‘‘We are absolutely delighted to be signing Roy to a new contract. He is a fantastic player and we never doubted he wanted to stay at United.

‘‘With our inspirational captain now signed up until 2006 the continuity and stability which is so important to United’s success is guaranteed.’’

The only outstanding big name to commit his future to the club is England skipper David Beckham.

The midfielder is in the middle of negotiations with the issue of image rights still to be resolved.