Newcastle United have announced that defender Fabian Schar has extended his contract at the club until the summer of 2025.

The 32-year-old moved to St James' Park from Deportivo La Coruna in July 2018 and has since made a total of 169 appearances for the Magpies across all competitions.

Schar has contributed with 11 goals during his five-and-half-year spell at the club, including arguably his most memorable strike in Newcastle's 4-1 home victory over Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League group stage in October.

The Switzerland international was voted as the North-East Football Writers' Player of the Year in 2019 following an impressive start to life at the club under former manager Rafael Benitez.

Schar has since established himself as a first-team regular under current boss Eddie Howe, helping the club qualify for the Champions League and reach last season's EFL Cup final, and he has started 26 of his 28 appearances for the Magpies in all competitions so far this season.

The centre-back was due to see his original contract at St James' Park expire at the end of the 2023-24 campaign, but he has decided to commit his future to the club by penning a new 12-month extension until June 2025.

"I've said it a lot of times, but I feel really at home here," Schar told Newcastle's official website after signing his new contract.

"I feel so comfortable living in Newcastle; I love the city and I love playing for the club and the incredible fans. I can't say enough how much I love them, and how much their support means to me.

"Playing for this team where I feel so comfortable with all my teammates and with the coaching staff feels really like a family for me, so I'm really grateful to stay here a bit longer and hopefully to have some more exciting times."

Howe added: "Fabian has been excellent for us. Since I've come to the football club, he's been a model of consistency and a big part of our success.

"He's defended very well but he's hugely talented with the ball as well, so we're delighted that he's extended his time here."

Schar, who is expected to represent Switzerland at Euro 2024 this summer, started in Newcastle's 3-0 victory over Tyne-Wear rivals Sunderland in the FA Cup last weekend, and he is in contention to play for the Magpies in Saturday's Premier League encounter with Manchester City. body check tags ::