Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel signs contract extension

Martin Skrtel has ended speculation over his future at Liverpool after signing a new contract with the club.

Skrtel, who arrived on Merseyside in January 2008, initially refused an 'unacceptable' contract from the club in May, suggesting in an interview with Slovakian outlet Aktualne the proposition Liverpool have put forward is usually only handed to 'older' players or those with injury struggles.

But the 30-year-old has now committed to the Anfield club, as confirmed via Liverpool's official website, joining Jordan Henderson, Daniel Sturridge, Philippe Coutinho and Jordon Ibe who have all signed new deals in 2015.

Skrtel joined Liverpool from Zenit St Petersburg in January 2008 and has made a total of 293 appearances for the club.

News of the contract renewals follows confirmation from Liverpool of two outgoing loan deals, with defender Lloyd Jones joining Blackpool and Jordan Williams linking up with Swindon Town.

Jones, 19, had spells at both Cheltenham Town and Accrington Stanley last season having been a regular in the Liverpool Under-21 ranks prior to those moves.

Williams has also made the step down to League One football with Swindon having already made his senior debut for the Reds in a Capital One Cup tie against Middlesbrough in September 2014.

Elsewhere at the club, Jordan Henderson has finally been confirmed as the new club captain following Steven Gerrard's departure at the end of the 2014-15 season.

Henderson, who was appointed Liverpool vice-captain in September 2014, frequently stood in as skipper during Gerrard's frequent spells out of the starting line-up last season.

He will begin his duties during the club's pre-season tour of the Far East and Australia, with the squad set to fly out on Sunday 12 July.

"I've learnt a lot off Stevie and how he conducted himself as the captain of this club both on and off the field," said Henderson. "You'll always learn from top players – and Steven was exactly that.

"I'll use what I learnt from him to help me, but I also have to do things in the way I think is right."