George Baldock says he is “absolutely buzzing” after signing a new contract at Sheffield United until the summer of 2022. English right-back Baldock was said to be attracting interest from Scottish champions Celtic this summer but he has reaffirmed his commitment to the club after putting pen-to-paper on a new three-year contract at Bramall Lane.
The 26-year-old first arrived at the Blades in June 2017 for an undisclosed fee from MK Dons and he has been an integral part of the side ever since, making 61 Championship appearances and scoring two goals in the process.
He helped United earn automatic promotion from England’s second-tier last season, ending the club’s 12-year absence from the Premier League, before making his top-flight debut in the 1-1 draw against Bournemouth on August 10.
Baldock retained his place in the starting XI for Sunday’s 1-0 home victory against Crystal Palace and Chris Wilder’s men, who have been tipped for relegation, have taken four points from their opening two games.
Reacting to his new deal, the defender said he was delighted to have extended his stay in the Steel City and is looking forward to helping the club keep progressing over the years to come. “I’m absolutely buzzing, I love the city and I’m really in amongst it. I’m excited about the future and what it could hold,” he told the club’s official website. “The club is going places and I want to be part of it, it was as simple as that really when it came to the new deal. “I just want to keep putting the performances in and see where it takes us.”
Baldock, who spent loan spells at Northampton Town, Tamworth, IBV and Oxford United earlier in his career, is expected to keep his starting place for Saturday’s home clash against Leicester City.
The Foxes have drawn their first two games – a 0-0 against Wolverhampton Wanderers before holding Chelsea 1-1 at Stamford Bridge – and will be eager to pick up their first win of the campaign.
Saturday will mark the first-ever Premier League meeting between the two teams and their first league match since February 2011, which ended in a 1-0 win for Leicester in the Championship as Andy King scored the only goal.
United did meet the 2015/16 PL champions in the FA Cup in February last year but it was more disappointment for the Blades, who lost the encounter 1-0 again with former England international Jamie Vardy on the score sheet this time.
