Fabian Delph: 'Aston Villa teammates shocked I've decided to stay'

Fabian Delph has revealed that a number of his Aston Villa teammates were "shocked" by his decision to stay at the club.

The 25-year-old would have been allowed to leave the Midlands outfit for nothing in the summer due to the expiration of his contract.

However, the midfielder, who reportedly attracted interest from Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool, signed a four-and-a-half-year deal at the weekend.

"The lads are absolutely delighted," The Independent quotes Delph as saying. "As soon as I told some of them they looked at me shocked to start with.

"They see a lot in me and how dedicated I am and how I want to push on. They're delighted to keep someone like me here. I see them as family, brothers, I'd run through a brick wall for them. They're not just teammates."

Delph has been at Villa since 2009 following his move from Leeds United.