ELLIOT Embleton has put pen-to-paper on a fresh long term contract extension with Sunderland. 

The 22-year-old attacking midfielder has signed a new three-and-a-half year contract that will now keep him at the club until 2025. 

Embleton has become a key player for the Black Cats this season featuring 12 times and scoring two goals. 

Last season was where Embleton really got a taste of first team football spending the second half of last season on loan at Blackpool, where he'd help the Tangerines go on to achieve promotion via the play-offs. 

There was considered interest from Blackpool to test Sunderland's resolve in bringing him back to Bloomfield Road but the Black Cats were adamant in keeping him for this season's promotion push. 

His contract was due to be up next summer but now, Embleton's contract extension will put to bed any potential speculation surrounding his future. 

The midfielder said:  “I’m buzzing to sign a new deal with the club. It’s a very proud moment for me and my family, and hopefully I can keep showing the supporters what I can do on the pitch.

"I’ve been here a long time, so signing this contract is special and now, I’m really looking forward to pushing on.”

Manager Lee Johnson added: “We are delighted that Elliot had committed his future to the club. He is a player with top technique with both feet, which is quite unusual, and he’s on the way to becoming the player we know he can be.

"For him, there a lot of hard work to come, but aligned with the football club, there’s a lot of potential and we’re looking forward to the future with him.”