Javier Mascherano signs Barcelona contract extension

Javier Mascherano has signed a new deal with Barcelona.

The La Liga club confirmed earlier this month that they had reached an agreement with the Argentine midfielder to extend his stay at the Camp Nou until the summer of 2018.

Having now committed to those fresh terms, the 30-year-old expressed his delight to the club's official website.

"I'm committed to this club until the final day of the contract. I hope I can live up to expectations of the club," he said.

"I'm really happy to be in this great club and be part of a squad with such great players. Let's hope things go really well for us this season. We're looking forward to this season after some difficult times last campaign."

Mascherano, who joined Barca from Liverpool in 2010, has a release clause in his new contract which is worth £79m.