Yuri Ribeiro has committed his long-term future to Blackburn Rovers, signing a new contract until 2027 with the option of a further 12 months.
The Portuguese left-back has been a regular in the team since signing from Braga in the January transfer window. He initially penned a six-month deal which was set to expire in the summer.
But as Rudy Gestede hinted at on Tuesday, Rovers have now made their first move to tie down one of the five players out of contract this summer.
It seems a logical step with Owen Beck set to return to Liverpool. Harry Pickering is now fit again and will compete with Ribeiro next season for the left-back shirt.
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It is the first contract that Rovers have renewed for a first-team player since December 2023. Gestede hinted there are more in the pipeline, with talks ongoing to shape Valerien Ismael's squad for next season.
"We have the short-term focus and the long-term focus. So, behind the scenes, from day one, we started to work already on the new season," Ismael said.
"The first step, for sure, to assess the situation, to assess the players, to have an idea which player will be able to do the job, to fit in the profile, what we want to implement, the way we want to play.
"Yuri provided us very good numbers and physicality and quality. His mentality, how he's in the group, very good guy. So, he has absolutely the profile for what we expected from that position.
"I think that we are, on that side at least, we are safe for the moment. On the other side, he looks a little bit more dangerous at the minute in the right-back position, but it is what it is."
Ribeiro himself felt it was an easy decision to commit his future to Rovers. Staying at Ewood Park in the long-term was always an ambition for the defender.
"I'm very happy to extend my contract. It was an easy decision because since I came I'm happy here, so it was an easy one," Ribeiro said.
"I'm happy here. Everyone's helped me a lot since I came, so I really felt at home. It was easy to play inside of this team.
"I mean, the group received me very well, so I'm really happy to be part of Rovers. As a player, sometimes when we finish a contract, it's not so easy. We want to know how it will be in the next season, so this gives me some calm.
"It doesn't change anything because in my head it's still the same. I have my goals, I want to help the team, so just give me more confidence because this means that the club trusts me. And I just want to keep and show everyone that it was a good decision.
"I really enjoy being in England. I like to play here. We played three days. It was an easy decision because I'm ready to play. It was easy because I really enjoy playing in England."
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