Manchester United defender Jonny Evans has signed a new three-and-a-half-year contract, the club today confirmed.

Evans’ current deal was set to expire in the summer of 2014 but following his performances in Nemanja Vidic’s absence he has been rewarded with an improved contract

“I’m delighted to sign my new contract,” he told the club website. “I am so proud to play for such a great club, and there’s no better feeling than playing football in this team and winning games. I have always felt that this is the right club for me. Even when I was 9 or 10 years old back home in Northern Ireland, clubs asked me to go on trial but I didn’t go because I knew that Manchester United was the place I wanted to play football. I would love to play here throughout the rest of my career.”