Steven Gerrard Signs Four-year Deal to Stay at Liverpool

Steven Gerrard has taken another step towards ending his career as a one-club man after last night putting pen to paper on a new four-year contract with Liverpool.

The deal, which ties the Huyton-born captain to Anfield until the age of 33 and will cost the club around £30m, was initially announced by Liverpool in April but formally concluded only upon Gerrard's return to pre-season training at Melwood yesterday.

The midfielder had left the contract on hold during Liverpool's pursuit of Manchester United for the Premier League title last season, then departed for World Cup duty with England and a holiday before officially committing himself to Anfield until 2013. There were also minor contractual details to be resolved despite the club's announcement of an agreement in April.

Gerrard still had two years remaining on a contract worth £120,000 a week and his new deal, believed to have increased his wage to £140,000 a week, may ensure he completes his professional playing career solely as an employee of Liverpool. The 29-year-old recently announced this contract is likely to be his last.

The England international follows Yossi Benayoun in signing a new contract with Liverpool this week, while the manager, Rafael Benítez, Fernando Torres, Dirk Kuyt and Daniel Agger have all committed their long-term futures to Anfield in recent months.