Manchester United defender Chris Smalling signs new deal and Smalling made 33 appearances in his first season at Old Trafford

Manchester United defender Chris Smalling has signed a new five-year deal at Old Trafford and he is a 21-year-old, who arrived from Fulham in the summer of 2010, played 16 league games last season as United were crowned champions for the 19th time.

He has new deal will keep him at Old Trafford until the end of the 2015/16 campaign and is a strong display of faith by manager Sir Alex Ferguson, who has already brought in Blackburn defender Phil Jones this summer.

Ferguson added for i am delighted Chris has signed a new contract and Chris has been outstanding since joining us from Fulham last year and he is an extremely talented young defender he's quick, strong and reads the game well and he is a great asset to the team and Smalling, Jones and Jonny Evans will provide back up and competition for Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic at the heart of the United defence next season, with fellow defenders Wes Brown and John O'Shea having both completed moves to Sunderland on Thursday.

Manchester United secure deal for Blackburn's Phil Jones for five-year contract for Blackburn

Manchester United secure deal for Blackburn's Phil Jones have sealed a five-year contract for Blackburn defender Phil Jones in a deal believed to be worth up to £17m.

The England Under-21 centre-half had a medical with the Premier League champions on 8 June before a late hitch delayed the completion of the move and Despite offers from Arsenal and Liverpool, the 19-year-old insisted he only wanted a move to Old Trafford.

A United statement said the club were "delighted" to conclude the transfer and "The player passed a medical in Manchester last week and has agreed a five-year contract," the statement added.

Phil Jones only made his Premier League debut in 2010 March last year but has made a big impact in a first full season and featured of a England U-21s in the 1-1 draw with Spain U-21s on Sunday.

The teenager will face a battle to immediately break into a United's first team with Rio Ferdinand and the Nemanja Vidic of a clear first choice for the centre-half spots.

United striker Wayne Rooney said last week for Phil Jones is a good young English player and One of the toughest defenders I played against last season and Can play midfield too.