Manchester United's [Images] England [Images] striker Wayne Rooney [Images] has agreed to extend his contract by a further two years -- keeping him at Old Trafford until 2012.

United manager Alex Ferguson said in a statement on their Web site (www.manutd.com) on Saturday that the move reflected the club's desire to build for the future.

Rooney, who turned 21 last month and is the most exciting player to emerge in English football for more than a decade, cost United 30 million pounds ($57.48 million) when he joined from Everton in August 2004.

He made an astonishing debut, scoring a hat-trick against Fenerbahce in the Champions League, and has gone on to form a lethal partnership with strike partner and World Cup rival Cristiano Ronaldo [Images] of Portugal.

Ferguson said: "Obviously, I think for everyone at the club it is great news that Wayne has committed his future to Manchester United.

"It reflects our intention to build a team to stay together. Cristiano signed a new contract last year and we have exciting young talent here too.

"We see Wayne and Cristiano emerging as the best players in the world, they have their finest years in front of them and we will all be lucky to witness that."

Welcoming the deal, Rooney said: It's something that I have always wanted. There is so much that I want to achieve with this club starting hopefully with the Premiership this season.

"It is an exciting time at the moment and I am relishing the challenge that goes with it.

"The team is developing, with a mix of experience and youth, and I am just glad that I can play my part in it."

Rooney, who has scored 42 goals in 107 appearances for United, is expected to lead the attack on Sunday when the Premier League leaders host champions Chelsea.

• Complete football coverage