Liverpool striker Luis Suarez has expressed his delight in putting pen to paper on a new long-term contract at Anfield.

The Uruguayan international has committed his future to the Merseyside outfit just months after admitting that he wanted to leave the club.

The 26-year-old was the subject of two bids from Arsenal in the summer, but the Reds stood firm on their stance that the forward was not for sale.

Despite keeping hold of the player, Liverpool continued to be dogged by rumours that Suarez could leave in January or at the end of the season, but the prolific frontman has ended all the speculation.

"It's nice because when you extend your contract, you extend it because you want to stay here for the future," Suarez told the club's official website. "I signed not only for two-and-a-half more years, but I signed for a long time to stay here and I am so happy.

"When you are happy, you try everything for the best for the future. I spoke a lot with my family because my family are very important to me and they are happy here. We spoke over the last few weeks with the club and everything is okay. I don't have a problem, the club don't have a problem, so it's very good."

Suarez has scored 17 goals in the Premier League so far this season.