Liam Cooper has revealed his delight on Twitter after it was confirmed that he had signed a new four-year deal with Leeds.
The 25-year-old centre-back, who captained Leeds in their 3-2 win against Bolton on Sunday, had just a season left on his original Elland Road contract before putting pen to paper on a new deal.
Leeds confirmed on their official website that the former Chesterfield stopper will now remain with the Whites until the summer of 2021, joining Kalvin Phillips, Tyler Denton and Gaetano Berardi in penning a new deal.
Cooper posted on his personal Twitter account that he was “delighted” to secure a new deal before stating that he wants the Whites to get “back to where they belong”.
Delighted to extend my stay.. Time to get back where we belong.. #MOT #2021 pic.twitter.com/zO9zrk4aCb
— Liam Cooper (@LiamCooper__) August 10, 2017
Leeds are yet to return to the Premier League since their financial collapse and fall from grace back in 2004, and are now in their 14th season outside of England’s top flight.
Cooper was a key member of the Leeds side last season as he acted as first back-up to Pontus Jansson and Kyle Bartley, making 18 appearances and captaining the side in half of those matches.
Now, Cooper is set to be Bartley’s replacement and remain a key member of the Whites side throughout the entire 2017-18 campaign, partnering Jansson after Bartley returned to parent club Swansea.
The defender is expected to start and wear the captain’s armband against Preston on Saturday, with Matthew Pennington likely to be sidelined following his injury against Bolton.
OPINION
Cooper is set to be instrumental to Leeds this season and he showed that with a passionate, heart-on-the-sleeve display against Bolton. He made a number of interceptions and fought with target man Gary Madine throughout, embodying just the kind of endeavour Leeds need alongside their attacking talents in the final third. With Bartley gone, it was crucial that Cooper was handed a new deal, and even more so the defender is deserving of such an offer. However, a four-year deal is a long time and with promotion potentially on the horizon, new signings will be made. Such a long-term offer will endanger Cooper of being left to rot in the reserves if the Whites do bring in a replacement in the future, leaving Leeds to pay his wages for the duration of his deal unless he is sold.