Skip to main content

Wayne Rooney agrees to contract extension with Manchester United

Wayne Rooney has won five Premier League titles and the Champions League with Man U. (John Peters/Getty Images)

Wayne Rooney (John Peters/Getty Images)

Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney has agreed to a contract extension that will keep the 28-year-old with the Red Devils until June 2019, Rooney announced on his website Friday.

The deal will pay him up to £300,000 a week, which would make him the highest paid player in Premier League history and equates to about $26 million per year. His old deal, which paid him £250,000 a week, would have expired next year.

"I’m very happy to have signed a new long-term contract with Manchester United," Rooney said on his website. "This is one of the biggest clubs in the world, and to know that I will be playing here for the majority of my career is something that I’m looking forward to. I’m happy that everything is now finalised and I can carry on concentrating on my football."

SI WIRE: MLS purchases Chivas USA

Rooney has been with Manchester United since 2004 after two seasons with Everton. He is only 42 goals shy of passing Bobby Charlton's 249 for the most in United history, according to the BBC.

Speaking at a United news conference on Friday before the deal was official, manager David Moyes said about Rooney: "Everyone knows how important a player he is. He is a terrific football player and if we can get it done it will be great."

Rooney, who also has 38 goals in 88 appearances for the English national team, returned to action at the end of January after being out nearly a month with injury. He has 11 goals in 28 appearances for United this season.

United is seventh in the Premier League with 42 points, 15 behind Chelsea for the league lead and 11 behind Liverpool for the last Champions League spot.

SI WIRE: U.S. national team climbs to No. 13 in FIFA world rankings