Toby's 'new deal is to be £150k a week - 3 times bigger than previous contract'

  /  Dafa316

Toby Alderweireld has signed a new three-and-a-half-year deal with Tottenham, putting an end to one of the Premier League's longest-running contract sagas.

Alderweireld has committed his future to Spurs until 2023, tying him to the club until beyond his 34th birthday.

The centre-half's new deal is thought to be worth around £150,000-a-week – three times bigger than his previous £50,000-a-week contract, which was due to expire at the end of the current season.

The news represents a victory for both the Belgian, who has long wanted a lucrative contract to see out his top-level career, and new Spurs manager Jose Mourinho, who was influential in persuading Alderweireld to finally commit his future at the club.

While Mourinho's arrival has undoubtedly aided negotiations, Alderweireld and his family are believed to be very happy in London, with his wife also expecting a second child.

Alderweireld would have been able to discuss a free transfer with overseas clubs from January 1.

The 30-year-old and Spurs had long since reached an impasse while Mauricio Pochettino was manager but Mourinho is a huge admirer of the former Ajax and Atletico Madrid defender and wanted to sign him for Manchester United in summer 2018.

The Portuguese's former club refused to sanction the deal, despite Tottenham's willingness to sell. Spurs were also open to offers this summer but received no bids, despite Alderweireld being available for just £25million, owing to a clause in his contract.

Alderweireld is the second Spurs player aged 30 to earn a new contract until 2023 this season, after Moussa Sissoko in September.

The deals represent a shift in policy for chairman Daniel Levy, who has previously be reluctant to offer long-term deals to older players.

Alderweireld's contract will increase speculation that his Belgium international teammate Jan Vertonghen, 31, who is out of contract in the summer, could similarly commit to the club.

Christian Eriksen is understood to have told Spurs that he will not be signing a new deal, however.

Related: Tottenham Hotspur Alderweireld
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