Collins pens new two-year West Ham deal

London - Welsh international defender James Collins on Thursday signed a new two-year deal with West Ham which will keep him at the London club until 2018.

Collins, 32, has made 160 appearances for West Ham across two spells, having rejoined the club in 2012 after a three-year period with Premier League rivals Aston Villa.

"To be signing for another two years, I can't explain how happy I am to be part of a club that is moving forward and getting bigger and bigger, so to be part of that is unbelievable," Collins told the club's official website.

Collins has made just seven league appearances this season with Winston Reid, James Tomkins and Angelo Ogbonna all ahead of him in the pecking order at Upton Park.

"I try to be professional, as I've been in teams where players make a negative effect when they're not playing, so I am just proud to be part of such an amazing club," added Collins.

"I'm happy coming in every morning, whether I'm playing or not playing, and I train hard and try to keep myself fit. To be part of such a big club for such a long time, I'm a very lucky boy."