G.Barry signs new contract with "Aston Villa" © EuroFootball.com

As reported by the English press, the club captain and defender Gareth Barry has signed a new four-year contract with the team.

At the beginning of this summer, "Villa" rejected the offer of £4.5 million from "Portsmouth" for 25-year-old G.Barry, who says that Martin O'Neill's arrival at the club helped him decide to stay.

"There were many speculations about my future, but I am pleased that everything has finally been clarified and I will represent this club for the next four years," the defender said. "Martin O'Neill's arrival in our team had a huge significance for my decision."

"It is extremely important that this club acquired the right person, not only for me but for the entire team as well," added G.Barry. "I feel that my best time is still ahead of me. When you observe players for a long time, you realize that they reach their peak form when they are between 25-30 years old."

The former captain of England's youth team, G.Barry, who has spent over eight years at Aston Villa, has played in more than 300 matches.