Chris Basham signs Sheffield United contract until 2022

The central defender has been rewarded for an impressive first season in the Premier League, where he was one of three players to start every match for the Blades.

He was named players' player of the year and fans' player of the year in the club's end-of-season awards on Friday.

Basham's new deal runs until 2022.

The 32-year-old has been part of Sheffield United's remarkable from League One to ninth in the Premier League last season.

He joined on a free transfer from Blackpool in the summer of 2014.

Used as a central midfielder in manager Chris Wilder's first game in charge in 2016, he was converted into an overlapping central defender on the right-hand side of a back three. His performances there have greatly impressed this season, and while the new contract he was offered earlier in the season remained unsigned, the north-east-born player was linked with a number of clubs, including Newcastle United.

"We're all striving for the same thing, starting with the manager and throughout the club, we all have the same ambitions and same goals," he told his club's official website.

"There is a genuine togetherness within the group and obviously that makes you want to remain part of this journey, we certainly think there is much more to come.

"The club has backed us since day one and that has continued throughout our rise to the Premier League, now we are here we want to improve further and that is the focus ahead of returning for pre-season later this month."

Basham made six Premier League starts for Bolton Wanderers between 2008 and 2010, and one for Blackpool in November 2010 but it would be almost a decade before he returned to the top flight.

The Blades' longest serving players has made 282 appearances in all competitions for the Bramall Lane club, and his attacking approach and wholeheartedness has made him an extremely popular figure on the terraces.

He joins a host of key players including Billy Sharp, David McGoldrick, John Fleck and Oliver Norwood in signing new contracts since winning promotion to the Premier League. Wilder and his assistant Alan Knill also signed longer deals, which in their case run until 2024.

On-loan goalkeeper Dean Henderson was named the Blades' young player of the year on Friday. The club are hoping to bring him back for a third loan spell from Manchester United next season.

Enda Stevens's goal against Brighton and Hove Albion was voted goal of the season.

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