FC Schalke 04 have been boosted by the news that Japanese full-back Atsuto Uchida has put pen to paper on a new deal with the club. This comes after goalkeeper Lars Unnerstall's recent decision to extend his deal at the Veltins Arena until 2015.

Uchida's previous deal was due to expire in June 2013, but the 24-year-old has opted for a further two years in Gelsenkirchen and, like Unnerstall, will stay until the summer of 2015.

Reliable

"We are very pleased with the extension. He is an extremely reliable player and has become synonymous with the club", said Schalke's director of sport Horst Held of the extension.

The Royal Blues signed Uchida, a 50-time Japan international, from J-League side Kashima Antlers in 2010. Since breaking into the first team, he has now made 69 appearances for the club and was a key player in their run to the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League in 2011. He played for the club 18 times in the Bundesliga in the 2011/12 season.

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