Glenn Whelan extends Stoke City contract

Stoke midfielder Glenn Whelan has penned a one-year contract extension, the Barclays Premier League club have announced.

The 32-year-old Republic of Ireland international, whose new deal runs until the summer of 2018, has made over 300 appearances for the Potters since moving from Sheffield Wednesday for £500,000 in 2008.

“Glenn has been one of the mainstays of our side since his arrival and few players can have provided such value for money in the history of the Premier League,” chief executive Tony Scholes told the club’s official website.

Whelan joined the club during the season when they were promoted to the top flight and his arrival came just before captain Ryan Shawcross made his loan move a permanent arrangement.

He made his 300th Stoke appearance during a home defeat to Southampton back in March and also featured in Ireland’s first two games at Euro 2016.

Whelan missed just one league game for Mark Hughes’ side last term and his manager recently stated his appreciation for the central midfielder.

Speaking after his landmark outing against Saints, Hughes said: “Glenn’s been here for a long time, even before my time, and he has been written off on numerous occasions and people were saying he is the next one to be replaced.

“But he continues to affect games and he has said himself since there has been a change in attitude and approach to games.

“I think he has prospered even more because he has been able to show people he is a good football player. An intelligent football player knows what he needs to do to affect the game in the right manner and he’s been doing that for a long time, certainly since I have been here.”