Cardiff keeper Neil Etheridge signs new contract until 2021

NEIL ETHERIDGE has signed a new long-term contract at Cardiff City – just 12 months after joining the club.

The Welsh outfit have announced the goalkeeper has put pen-to-paper on a four-year deal that keeps him at the club until 2021.

The Philippines international moved from Walsall last season, quickly installing himself as the newly-promoted Premier League club’s first-choice shot-stopper.

The 28-year-old featured in all-but one of Cardiff’s matches in their promotion-winning season in the Championship.

And has now committed his future to the Bluebirds as they prepare for their first campaign in the English top-flight since 2014.

It will also be Etheridge’s first chance to show his talents in the Premier League, despite spending three years in the Chelsea academy, before a further six in the Fulham first-team.

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During his time on the books at Craven Cottage, he had four loan spells, before moving permanently to Oldham and then Charlton.

But he finally got a run as a first-team regular at Walsall, impressing enough to warrant a transfer, albeit on a free, to Cardiff.

And the former Chelsea youth product is eager to get his Premier League career underway.

Etheridge told: “We had a fantastic year last year and it’s been great to continue that and extend my deal.

“Every game is going to be a great experience – all of them. Of course, you’ve got Old Trafford, Stamford Bridge… But I’m looking forward to the first game of the season.”