Morgan awaits title defence after signing new deal

Matt Stead

Leicester’s Premier League-winning skipper Wes Morgan has signed a new deal which will keep him at the King Power Stadium until the summer of 2019.

The 32-year-old defender, who played every minute of the club’s remarkable charge to glory, has committed his future to the club as he prepares for a title defence and Champions League football.

Morgan said: “To commit my future to Leicester City is a wonderful feeling. Everyone knows how I feel about playing for this club and with my team-mates, so I’m proud to have the chance to carry on wearing the shirt long term.

“Lifting that Premier League trophy was a moment I will never forget and it’s still sinking in. Now we’ve got to give it everything to defend it, as well as showing what we can do in the Champions League.”

He continued: “We all know that what we’ve got in that dressing room is something special, so I can’t wait to get the new season started with the boys so we can once again give it our best for each other and for our fantastic supporters.”

Morgan, who represented Jamaica at this summer’s Copa America in the United States, has made 196 appearances for the Foxes since joining them from Nottingham Forest in January 2012.

He was ever-present at the heart of a Leicester defence which conceded just 36 goals last season and was named in the Professional Footballers’ Association’s Team of the Year, lifting the Premier League trophy just two years after leading the club to the Sky Bet Championship title.

Manager Claudio Ranieri was delighted to have retained the services of a man who has played in all four divisions and has more than 600 career appearances to his name.

Ranieri said: “Wes is a leader and a warrior. I’m so happy that he’s committed his future to Leicester City Football Club.

“It’s a wonderful time to be part of this team. Last season was so special and Wes was fantastic. Now we have another huge season ahead of us and we need him.”

Meanwhile, the Foxes were not commenting on claims that they have agreed in principle to allow head of recruitment Steve Walsh to take up the role of director of football at Everton.

However Walsh, who signed a new contract in May, was understood not to be present at the club’s pre-season friendly at Oxford on Tuesday evening.