Morocco winger El Zhar extends stay at Liverpool

Moroccan international winger Nabil El Zhar has signed an extension to his Liverpool contract that will keep him at Anfield until 2012, the English club confirmed on Saturday.

Liverpool have also completed the signing of French left-back Chris Mavinga from Paris St Germain.

The 22-year-old El Zhar, who made 19 appearances for the Reds’ first-team last season, follows Steven Gerrard, Fernando Torres, Dirk Kuyt, Yossi Benayoun and Daniel Agger in committing his long-term future to the club.

The French-born player joined Liverpool from Saint Etienne in October 2006.

Last season manager Rafa Benitez described the winger as a ‘lucky charm’ after he played a prominent role in some of the team’s dramatic early season comebacks.

Meanwhile, 18-year-old Mavinga, who can also play at centre-back and represented his country at under-18 level, follows in the footsteps of striker David Ngog, who joined Liverpool from PSG last summer.