Germany winger Marco Reus has ended speculation over his future by signing a four-year extension to stay at struggling Borussia Dortmund until 2019, the Bundesliga club announced on Tuesday.
With Borussia battling relegation after a series of poor league results, there had been speculation Reus was set to leave at the end of the season.
The 25-year-old had been linked to Dortmund's rivals Bayern Munich, as well as Real Madrid and Manchester United, due to a clause in his old contract, which would have allowed him to leave in June for 25 million euros ($28.25m).
But Reus has silenced the speculation by putting pen to paper on a new deal with the eight-time German champions which contains no release clause.
"I am very happy with my decision for Borussia Dortmund," said Reus.
"Dortmund is my home town and Borussia is simply my club.
"I look forward to a successful future with our team and our fantastic fans behind us.
"There is plenty to do and I want to really get stuck in."
Borussia face Italian league leaders Juventus away in the Champions League last 16, first-leg, on February 24 with the home leg on March 18, but are currently 16th in the German league.
Reus' new deal is a huge relief for Dortmund's bosses having seen star midfielder Mario Goetze leave for Bayern Munich in 2013 to be followed by striker Robert Lewandowski last year.
"We never let ourselves be guided by transfer rumours and always saw there was a good chance that this exceptional player opts for a future with Dortmund," said CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke.
"Marco can shape an era at Dortmund, as Uwe Seeler did in Hamburg or Steven Gerrard did for Liverpool.
"The fact Marco had decided to stay in Dortmund during a sporting crisis shows a high degree of identification which makes us very proud."
No Dortmund player will be given a contract in the future which contains a similar release clause, the club has also announced.
Reus has won 23 caps for Germany and only missed out on the 2014 World Cup with the eventual champions after tearing ankle ligaments in the final warm-up international before the team flew to Brazil.
"Marco Reus could have joined any top club in the world, but this decision shows that his heart beats for his hometown and his home club," said director of sport Michael Zorc.
"He is a very important component for Borussia Dortmund's sporting future."
Source: AFP