The Newcastle United goalkeeper's contract was up at the end of the season but the Magpies have now made a decision
Nick Pope of Newcastle United
Nick Pope of Newcastle United
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Newcastle United have made a decision on Nick Pope's contract, with the England international goalkeeper's current deal set to expire at the end of this season
Pope's contract has been extended by a further year from the end of the current season taking his new deal up to June 2027 as a Newcastle player.
It is one of the first moves completed by new sporting director Ross Wilson, but the talks were already well under way between Pope and Eddie Howe.
When Pope signed from Burnley, Newcastle placed a number of options in his arrangement, including the chance to trigger another year if the club felt it was the right move going into his final 12 months. And that is the situation for the 33-year-old after he made a fantastic start to the season with five clean sheets in the bag.
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Pope has battled competition from the likes of Martin Dubravka, Odysseas Vlachodimos, and Karl Darlow during his time on Tyneside, and stepped up to the challenge of retaining the number one spot this season.
Pope was put under a little bit of pressure by the arrival of Aaron Ramsdale on loan from Southampton, but he has responded through top-notch performances.
Pope told Chronicle Live in the summer that he would be keen to end his career on Tyneside and his ambition to potentially finish his career could now be realised at St James' Park.
He said: "You can only ever focus on yourself and what is best for yourself and the team at the time. It was always far from my thoughts to leave, but there was no doubt in my mind about playing for anyone but Newcastle United.
"I could quite easily finish my career with Newcastle. I don't want to sound like an idiot, but I feel like I am a really good goalkeeper and have played a lot of Premier League games.
"I know myself and I am looking forward to things now, we go into the Champions League again and that's where I want to play."
Speaking about the battle with Ramsdale, Pope added: "I know Aaron from England, he is a good lad and a good keeper. He is coming in to improve the squad.
"I know I have had some really good spells at the club now and a couple of difficult games too, as everybody does across three years at a club. Now I feel like my body and mind are in a really good place."
The former Burnley and York City shot-stopper will now be attempting to win his England place back ahead of the World Cup in the US, Canada and Mexico.