Cape Town - Sunderland have confirmed that striker Connor Wickham has put pen to paper on a new deal which keeps him tied to the club until the summer of 2019, reports Football411.
The Hereford-born frontman would have been free to speak to speak to interested clubs in January when he entered the final six months of contract.
However, the Black Cats have avoided such a scenario by handing the former Ipswich Town trainee a new four-and-half year deal.
Commenting on Wickham's new deal, Sunderland boss Gus Poyet told the club's website: "I'm delighted that Connor has committed his future to us for the next few years.
"After his contribution at the end of last year, he has continued to improve his football and become an important part of our team.
"He keeps learning, he is able to adapt to different positions up front and he is enjoying our philosophy of play so I'm really looking forward to keep working with him for the benefit of our club.
"I think it was very important to tie down a young English centre forward as there are not many around; this shows clearly the way this football club wants to progress."
The Hereford-born frontman would have been free to speak to speak to interested clubs in January when he entered the final six months of contract.
However, the Black Cats have avoided such a scenario by handing the former Ipswich Town trainee a new four-and-half year deal.
Commenting on Wickham's new deal, Sunderland boss Gus Poyet told the club's website: "I'm delighted that Connor has committed his future to us for the next few years.
"After his contribution at the end of last year, he has continued to improve his football and become an important part of our team.
"He keeps learning, he is able to adapt to different positions up front and he is enjoying our philosophy of play so I'm really looking forward to keep working with him for the benefit of our club.
"I think it was very important to tie down a young English centre forward as there are not many around; this shows clearly the way this football club wants to progress."