Heaton delighted at contract extension

The 39-year-old goalkeeper is entering the 20th season of his professional career, having come through the United Academy in the early 2000s and he earned his stripes on loan at several clubs before a highly successful spell away during which he became an England international.

Tom returned to United in 2021 and made his senior debut for the club in the same year, becoming our 241st Academy graduate.

“It's obviously a privilege for anyone who gets the opportunity to extend their stay at a club like this," he told club media.

“There’s a lot of factors that go into the decision. I’ll be the first to say I’ve not played an awful lot of football over the last few weeks. I’ve still got that drive and desire to play. But there is also the other side of it. I’ve spent a long time at this football club, I’m a United fan and you want to be part of it.

“You want to be part of the success. It’s been a difficult period and last season didn’t finish how we wanted it to. But this club demands success and I think we’ve got a real good foundation to go and do that.”

Heaton was discussing his new deal after the first day of pre-season training at Carrington, which he said the whole squad were excited about.

With club media watching Ruben Amorim lead the session, Heaton’s voice was another to be heard loud and clear, as it often is. He’s always had a leadership role since his 2021 return, having previously captained Burnley in the Premier League.

“My priority is playing and working hard to try and get in the team,” Heaton said.

“That’s always the priority, but as a senior player, and someone who signed at 11, left aged 24 and came back at 35, the values of this football club are ingrained inside me and I want to make sure that new players who come into the building have an understanding of what the club means to the fans, what the traditions are, what the values are, as well as accepting that it also requires a period to evolve.

“I see that as part of my role, being supportive. Even with the new players, Matheus [Cunha] and Diego [Leon] coming through the door, offering that support if they need anything.

“I think it’s about driving yourself and people see that, so people see that when you’re at it, you’re doing things properly, that’s the first marker. It's a big part of it in my position at this moment.

"And Bruno [Fernandes, club captain] and I have a brilliant relationship, so I try and help him in any way I possibly can. I think he does a magnificent job."

Congratulations again on the new deal, Tom!