Arsenal defender Hector Bellerin signs new long-term contract

Bellerin has committed his future to Arsenal. Credit: PA

Spain right-back Hector Bellerin has signed a new long-term contract with Arsenal.

The Premier League club on Monday announced that the 21-year-old had committed his future to the Gunners.

Bellerin's impressive performances had seen him linked with moves to Barcelona and Manchester City in recent weeks.

A statement on www.arsenal.com read: "Hector Bellerin has signed a new long-term contract."

Press Association Sport understands Bellerin, currently absent with an ankle injury, has signed a six-year deal.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger last month said he was planning to offer Bellerin a new deal after praising his "absolutely spectacular" development following a "nightmare" full debut against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League in 2014.

The defender made 44 appearances for the Gunners in 2015-16, creating nine goals.

He was named in the Professional Footballers' Association Premier League team of the year and in the Spain squad for Euro 2016.

He joined Arsenal from hometown club Barcelona and was linked with a return to the Nou Camp, but the new deal has put an end to that prospect, for now.

Arsenal may now be eager to secure new deals for Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil. The pair's existing contracts expire in the summer of 2018.

So too do the contracts of Olivier Giroud and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

Defender Per Mertesacker's contract expires at the end of this season, but the 32-year-old German is not currently in the first team.

Arsenal play Paris St Germain in the Champions League on Wednesday night.