Republic of Ireland international Stephen Ward has penned a contract extension with Premier League club Burnley.
The 31-year-old, who scored during Burnley's shock 3-2 win at champions Chelsea on Saturday, was due to be a free agent at the end of this season but is now under contract until the summer of 2019, with the option of a further 12 months on top of that.
Ward joined Burnley from Wolves in the summer of 2014 ahead of their new Premier League campaign and has nailed down a regular spot at left-back for Sean Dyche's side.
BREAKING: Stephen Ward signs contract extension at Turf Moor. Read: https://t.co/fdEdTprjH2 pic.twitter.com/GkabKB0MKw
— Burnley FC (@BurnleyOfficial) August 14, 2017
"It's great and long may it continue,'' Ward told the club's official website of playing at Turf Moor. "I'm delighted to have signed. It's just great to be part of a club like this at the minute and hopefully we can have another successful season.''
Ward only made nine top-flight appearances in his first season at the club due to injury, but he became a frequent fixture in Dyche's starting XI towards the second half of their promotion campaign in 2015-16, when Ben Mee moved inside to partner Michael Keane.
Last season Ward started all but one of Burnley's Premier League games, more than anyone else in Dyche's squad.