Dunne stays on at Manchester City

Manchester City captain Richard Dunne committed his future to the side by signing Friday a new four-year contract with the English Premier League club.

Dunne, 28, had been linked with a move from Eastlands, with City's top-flight rivals Portsmouth reportedly interested in the defender.

But the arrival of Mark Hughes as City's manager in succession to former England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson helped persuade Dunne to stay with the north-west club until 2012.

“My first priority is, was and always has been to stay at City because I've enjoyed it so much and I feel really settled here,” Dunne told the club's official website.

“When Mark Hughes got the job, I think everyone was really pleased and I was thrilled that he seemed to make it a priority to sort my contract out. I'm delighted to be able to stay.”

Hughes said: “I'm delighted with the outcome and Richard is a really important player for us.

“It was one of my priorities when I took the job that I made sure that he was one of the players we needed to keep.”

Dunne added his decision to stay came soon after Hughes's arrival.

“As soon as he did, we started to talk,” Dunne said.

“It was literally a couple of days and it was all done and dusted.

“I'm pleased now that it's all been signed and sealed and I can relax a bit more now and concentrate on the season ahead.”