DE GEA SIGNED FOUR years

Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea has signed a four-year contract extension less than
two weeks after a proposed move to Real Madrid collapsed on transfer deadline day.

De Gea had been poised to join Real for £29 million, but the 24-year-old's move fell through when paperwork was submitted just minutes after the transfer window closed.

David De Gea has signed a new four-year contract at #mufc with an option to extend for a

further year. pic.twitter.com/Z3JuQOaNEi
- Manchester United (@ManUtd) September 11, 2015

De Gea, whose deal includes an option for a fifth year, told the club's official website: "I am delighted to be starting this new chapter in my
United career. I have always enjoyed playing with these great players in front of our fantastic fans.

"Manchester United is a special club and Old Trafford is an ideal place for me to continue to develop my career. I'm looking forward to
putting a difficult summer behind me and concentrating on working hard to improve and help my teammates to be successful." United boss Louis van Gaal said: "I am absolutely delighted David has signed a new contract. He is one of the best goalkeepers in world football. I am very pleased that he will be part of the team for many years to come.

"David made a very important contribution to our performance last season and he has been the
club's Player of the Year for the last two seasons. He is a popular player who is keen to learn and enhance his game. At such a young age for a goalkeeper, he has many years ahead of him."

The move came after the Spain international's agent, Jorge Mendes, travelled to Manchester for negotiations with the club on Thursday.

Real president Florentino Perez had said this week that De Gea -- who had been warned he must be playing regularly for his club to be selected at Euro 2016 -- "has to do what is best for his career." De Gea had been omitted from United's squad
for their first six games of the season after manager Van Gaal said he was "not eager to play" and felt the 24-year-old was not in the
right state of mind.

However, he could now be restored to the side for Saturday's clash with Liverpool after playing
for Spain in their win over Slovakia on Tuesday. De Gea's previous deal was due to expire in
June, at which point he would have been able to move to Real Madrid on a free transfer, but Perez had told Cadena Cope: "They don't become free.

"The great players are never free. The ones that arrive for free and that are available are mediocre players."
De Gea joined United in 2011 as a replacement for the retiring Edwin van der Sar and has made 175 appearances for the club, winning the Sir Matt Busby award for the club's best player in both the 2013-14 and 2014-15 seasons.
United signed one goalkeeper, Sergio Romero, in the summer and almost added another when
Keylor Navas was due to join them in part- exchange for De Gea.
ESPN FC correspondent Richard Jolly contributed to this report.