Football News : Liverpool defender signs a new 5-year contract extension

Joe Gomez, the defender for Liverpool, recently signed a new five-year contract, committing his long-term career to the team. The 25-year-old player extends his stay at Anfield through 2027 after joining the Reds in 2015.

Despite making 142 appearances for Liverpool, Gomez has experienced severe knee and ankle problems. The 24-year-old was formerly a regular in the heart of the Reds' defence alongside Virgil van Dijk before suffering a serious knee injury.

Since then, Gomez has found it difficult to reclaim a spot in Jurgen Klopp's starting lineup.
As a result of Joel Matip's strong play and Ibrahima Konate's promising Anfield debut Joe missed out on his starting XI spot. Last season, the adaptable Englishman would stand in for Trent Alexander-Arnold at right-back.

But Calvin Ramsay's arrival from Aberdeen raised the possibility that Gomez would move on in the current transfer window. Gomez had been linked to moves to Newcastle United and Aston Villa, but the versatile center-back has now pledged his future to the Reds for another five years.

"It's obviously a special moment for me and my family. Another one that you dream of as a kid and one I don't take for granted,"

"It is an unbelievable place to be; in my eyes, probably one of the best - if not the best - clubs in the world at the minute. The opportunity to extend my stay here was an easy decision to make, really."

"Obviously, I have been here quite a while now, but in the grand scheme of things I still feel young and, like you say, the best years are ahead of me. I have got more to learn and the time to do that."

"I think I have the platform here to do it with the manager and the coaching staff around me and my teammates, to make sure the best years are ahead."

Gomez told liverpoolfc.com

Additionally, manager Klopp expressed his happiness that the "outstanding" Gomez signed new contracts, adding:

"Joe is an outstanding talent. He is also an outstanding defender and an outstanding human being."

"He has so many qualities, I could talk about them all day, so knowing that he will continue his journey with us is a massive boost - one that everyone who loves Liverpool FC and cares about its present and future should be unbelievably happy about."

For £4.4 million, Liverpool acquired Gomez from Charlton Athletic in the summer of 2015. Since then, the England international has appeared in 142 games for the club and has contributed five assists, but he has yet to score a goal.

During his tenure at Anfield, the former Addicks player won the Premier League, Champions League, EFL Cup, FA Cup, Club World Cup, and UEFA Super Cup in addition to the Under-17 Euros with England in 2014.

Gomez only started four of his eight Premier League games in 2021-22, but he has nonetheless followed in the footsteps of Klopp, Mohamed Salah, and James Milner by signing new contracts this year.

Following the extension of Gomez's contract, Liverpool is now anticipated to step up their efforts to reach new contracts with striker Diogo Jota and midfielder Naby Keita before the start of the 2022-23 season.