MANCHESTER: Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany has been handed a new six-year contract, in one of the longest deals the club has made in its recent history.

The 26-year-old Belgian defender, who steered the Sky Blues to their first top flight title in 44 years last season, will now stay at the northwest club into his thirties, a statement on the side's official website mcfc.co.uk said on Thursday.

“For me if you are good somewhere then there is no reason to look elsewhere,” Kompany said. “Man City as a project is not just a project of the owners or the people employed by the club; it is also my project.

“I have been here since the beginning and I have seen everything at the club change inside and out. I have the feeling that I have contributed to it too. It is good to know that I can be at City for another six years.

“It is a compliment that the club feels so highly of me.”

Kompany, a former Anderlecht and Hamburg player, said he was hoping to make even more of an impact in years to come and was relishing the challenge of leading the club to even greater success.

The respected and erudite Belgian international moved to City from Hamburg in 2008 and has played more than 125 times for the Manchester side.