Irons forge new defender deal

Northern Ireland international left back George McCartney has signed a new five-year contract with West Ham.

McCartney had been the subject of a £4.5 million bid from his former club Sunderland earlier this month, but he inked the new deal to commit his future to West Ham.

Ther 27-year-old signed for West Ham from Sunderland in 2006 in a four-year deal worth £1 million and, after a settling in period, played some of his best football last term.