James Tomkins signs new deal that takes him up to 2020

James Tomkins has signed a new deal with West Ham United that will keep him at the club until 2020.


The 25-year-old, who suffered a broken nose in Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Manchester United, is a graduate of the West Ham academy and has made more than 150 appearances for the club.

West Ham confirmed Tomkins’s contract on Tuesday, hours after manager Sam Allardyce had hit out at the United striker Robin van Persie for elbowing the defender during the weekend’s clash.

Tomkins made his West Ham debut as an 18-year-old in 2008 after a short loan spell at Derby County and has been in the first-team fold ever since.

“I think it’s brilliant that the club has shown faith in me and offered me this deal and I’m delighted to sign it,” Tomkins told the club’s website. “I’ve been here since I was seven and this is a long-term deal which is going to take me up until I’m in my 30s, so it’s nice to commit my future here.

“It’s been a good season, but it’s still got a little way to go yet and the job is not done. We’ve had a good year so far and we want to continue it. I feel like my performances have come along a lot this year and I am just enjoying playing really.”

Despite his broken nose, Tomkins is expected to start at Southampton on Wednesday as he is Allardyce’s only fit, experienced centre-half – with the stand-in Cheikhou Kouyaté likely to be his partner again.

The deal means Tomkins will remain at the club well beyond their move to the Olympic Stadium – something the Basildon-born defender is relishing.

“Being a West Ham fan, I want to spend my future here as it is exciting times with the Olympic Stadium move coming up in 2016,” said the player who made two appearances for Great Britain at the London 2012 Olympics.

“The club is going in the direction I wanted it to go and I want to be involved in. It’s exciting all-round, for the club and for me. It’s a good time and this year has been a great step forward. Now we just need to see it out. I look back at all the times I’ve been in the team, from when I made my debut at 18 years old, and this is as well as we’ve done.”


Source: Guardian