ADAM CLAYTON has signed a new four-year contract with Middlesbrough that commits him to the Riverside until 2021.

Clayton had entered the final 18 months of his previous deal, and Boro officials have moved quickly to tie him down.

The 28-year-old midfielder joined Boro from Huddersfield in the summer of 2014, and played a key role in helping the Teessiders win promotion from the Championship last season.

He has missed just four Premier League games this season, although he found himself on the substitutes' bench as Boro suffered a 1-0 defeat at Crystal Palace last weekend.

He said: "I’ve put pen to paper, finally. It’s been going on in the background for a few weeks so to get it over the line and guarantee myself coming here for the next couple of years is really good."