Martin Skrtel Signs New Contract With Liverpool, Ends Impasse Over Future
Martin Skrtel’s future as a Liverpool F.C. player is as solid as his place in the heart of the Reds’ defense.
Skrtel signed a new contract with Liverpool on Friday, the Premier League club announced on its website.
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Skrtel replaces his old contract, which would have expired after the 2015-16 season, with fresh terms that will tie him to Liverpool until 2018, according to The Guardian and The Liverpool Echo.
Skrtel, 30, joined the Reds from Russian club Zenit St. Petersburg in 2008 and has been a mainstay in Liverpool’s defense in recent years, racking up 293 appearances and scoring 17 goals during his Anfield career. The Slovakian center back was ever-present in Liverpool’s lineup last season and he’s expected to anchor the back line in 2015-16.
The good news on Skrtel’s contract front comes just over two months after he rejected an offer from Liverpool, citing its “unacceptable” terms. Skrtel and Liverpool spoke soon afterward, and the sides moved closer to an agreement within two weeks.
Skrtel sealed his Anfield stay with a handshake and a signature — in a similar no-nonsense style to how he defends Liverpool’s goal.
