Kirkland Commits to Latics for Four More Years

Wigan Athletic are delighted to announce their first signing of the summer. Today, England and Latics Goalkeeper, Chris Kirkland has put pen to paper on a new four year contract keeping him at the club until June 2012.

Chris' form this season meant that he became the target of much speculation about a move away from the Latics but this new deal secures his services for the fourth year of Premier League football at the JJB. Kirkland has kept 20 clean sheets in 64 appearances for Wigan Athletic and only conceded 5 goals at home since the turn of the year.

Chairman, Dave Whelan said at the recent player of the year dinner where Chris picked up Players' Player and Media Player of the year awards "Chris is the best goalkeeper ever to wear a Wigan Athletic shirt, he is not the best Goalkeeper in England, he is the best in Europe!"

Steve Bruce commented "I could not be more pleased to have Chris commit his future to Wigan Athletic, everyone knows what a professional Chris is, I knew Chris was a good goalkeeper before I joined but until I had worked with him I didn't realise just how good he actually is.

Story Continues..........


"When I joined the club we were shipping on average over two goals a game, and no matter how good your strikers are, it is virtually impossible to score three goals in this league to win every game. So it is no coincidence that Chris' run of clean sheets, the good form of the team defensively meant that we picked up 31 points in about the last 30 games to secure our status with a game to go.

"People ask me about transfer targets and who is coming in, but someone of Kirky's calibre signing this new deal is a massive boost for the Club and is an excellent foundation to continue building for next season."

Chris has committed his future to the Latics and will be a part of our fourth consecutive season in the Premier League, will you? Season tickets go on sale from next Tuesday, May 27th. It's all to play 4!!! Visit wiganathletic.tv for more details.

See a video interview with Chris Kirkland on Latics World shortly.