Gareth Bale signs new Tottenham deal until 2015

Gareth Bale has signed a new four-and-a-half year contract to remain at Tottenham Hotspur until 2015.

The 21-year-old winger has earned a glowing reputation across Europe this season after some brilliant displays in the Champions League, highlighted by his hat-trick against Inter Milan at San Siro.

“It’s great to have Gareth sign a new contract at the club,” said Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp. “He is a fantastic player and the type of player we need to be keeping at Spurs.

“Gareth is now one of the top left-sided players in the world. He really is an amazing talent and can only get better. He is a smashing lad as well, which is equally as important.”

Bale, who joined Spurs for £7m from Southampton in 2007 and has netted 17 times since moving to London, said: “I am enjoying my football at Tottenham. I want us to keep going forward as a team and hopefully we can achieve big things.

“We have got a great squad that is still young and we are going places. It is great to commit to the club, and hopefully we can achieve what we believe we can with this squad.

“The players want what the fans want, and performing in front of these fans is a special experience.

“I definitely believe we can challenge for a title very soon. That is why I have signed. Every year as a minimum we are aiming to qualify for the Champions League, so we are definitely going in the right direction.

“We have proven in the Champions League this season that we can compete with the best and we are in the last eight now and there is no reason we can’t go further this season and in years to come.”