West Ham United are delighted to announce that James Tomkins has signed a new long-term contract with the club.

The 22-year-old centre-back has pledged his future to the club by putting pen to paper on a deal that will see him remain at the Boleyn Ground until summer 2016, with the club having an option to extend the contract for a further year.

Tomkins has been in outstanding form all season as the Hammers strive for promotion from the npower Championship. West Ham have kept eleven clean sheets in the 24 matches the Essex-born defender has appeared in this term.

The No5 had double cause to celebrate as Saturday's match with Nottingham Forest marked his 100th senior appearance for the club. He joined the Hammers at the age of seven and, despite some recent inaccurate media reports, he has never been happier.

"I'm really pleased that I've signed a new contract at the club," he said. "It's nice to end the speculation about what people have been saying in the papers and commit my future to the club and concentrate on my football.

"By signing this deal, I'm showing my commitment to the club as they've been brilliant to me this year with all the support they have given to me and the rest of the players. If they continue doing that then together we can return the club back to the Premier League, where we believe we belong.

"Sam Allardyce has been brilliant this year as well and has shown what he can do on and off the pitch as a motivational manager."

WATCH JAMES TOMKINS' EXCLUSIVE WEST HAM TV INTERVIEW

Tomkins joined West Ham from local club Holy Cross as a boy, signing scholarship forms at the age of 16 before graduating from the Academy of Football in 2007.

The young defender made his first-team debut in a 1-1 Premier League draw at Everton on 22 March 2008 and scored his first Hammers goal in a 2-0 win over Sunderland on 5 May 2009. Later the same month, he signed a new contract.

Tomkins has become a first-team regular over the past two seasons, making more than 25 appearances in each Premier League campaign. This term, the Basildon-born star has excelled under new manager Sam Allardyce, catching the eye with his strong and intelligent defensive play and ability to carry the ball out from the back.

A favourite among Hammers supporters, he has also been recognised at international level. Having been capped by England at every age-group level and appeared at two UEFA European Under-21 Championship finals, Tomkins is now targeting his first senior call-up and has been named in Team GB's provisional squad for London 2012.