Aston Villa boss Paul Lambert has praised midfielder Fabian Delph for signing a new deal at the club.

The 25-year-old penned fresh terms at Villa Park on Sunday to keep him in the West Midlands until 2019.

Following speculation over Delph's future, Lambert believes that his desire to stay with Villa represents a "massive coup" for the club.

"No one expected it," he told their official website. "I think everyone thought Fabian was going to go and we would have to get someone else in.

"I don't think anyone saw this coming, but it's been something we've been trying to do. He enjoys his football and being at the club. When you get someone like Fabian... to have him commit is a massive, massive coup for us."

Delph, who joined the Villans from Leeds United in 2009, had been linked with Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur.