At least Leon wants to stay. Midfielder Leon Britton has signed a new one-year extension at Swansea City. Britton had two years left on his previous deal, but both the club and player were keen to pen a new deal that will keep at the Liberty until June 2017. And the 31-year-old was delighted to agree new terms as the Swans prepare for a fourth Barclays Premier League campaign. âTo stay on at the club for an extra year on top of my current contract is something that I am delighted to do,â said the popular midfielder. âFrom a personal point of view, the contract talks these days are so easy. It was done within a day or two with no complications. âI just wanted to get it done and signed and the club were happy to get it sorted quickly too. âIâm happy the club still feels Iâm able to compete and do well at this level at my age. Itâs a big thing for them to have given me this extension and I want to repay the faith the board and manager has shown in me. âHopefully I can carry on beyond my 34th birthday, but thatâs something weâll cross when we come to it.âBritton has managed 409 league appearances - 467 in all competitions - since initially joining on loan from West Ham in December 2002, and featured 34 times last season as the Swans competed in the Europa League on top of their domestic involvements. Britton has played a key role in three promotions along with lifting the Football League Trophy and Capital One Cup during his time at the club. And along with closing in on a personal milestone, Britton is looking forward to helping the Swans become more established in the Premier League. âTo get to 500 appearances in all competitions would be a great achievement for me. Thatâs my next personal target,â added Britton. âBut the important thing is that I help the club stay in the Premier League. We have had three years in the Premier League, and Iâd be delighted if we are still in it at the end of my new contract. âTo have six years in the Premier League with Swansea would be an incredible achievement considering where we were. âThe club has progressed so much over the last ten years, and it is very difficult to keep progressing. âThe challenge is to make sure we keep improving, maintain our Premier League status and try and build the club on and off the pitch.â
I wonder what our win percentage with or without Leon would be. He has played so many games now that the stats would be a fair reflection of how important he is for us.
