Leeds United have today announced that 26-year-old right-back Luke Ayling has acceded to a new four-year contract at Elland Road.
Signed from divisional rivals Bristol City for a derisory figure - reputed by many to have been in the region of £750,000 - in the summer transfer window of 2016, Ayling has made 58 appearances in all competitions for United since his departure from Ashton Gate.
A versatile player capable of being deployed as a full-back, central defender and a defensive midfielder with equal efficacy, Lambeth-born Ayling's imperishable yearning for on-field success has seen him become established as one of Leeds' most salient players.
Furthermore, his diligence and passion have not only made him a favourite of two Leeds United head coaches but also a darling of the supporters - who will be exultant at the news that one of the team's most dependable players is to remain at Elland Road for the foreseeable future.
There can be no dispute; Ayling's performances for United mean that this extension is wholly merited and, in marked contrast to previous regimes, representative of the management's desire to retain the club's most prized playing assets.