Spurs defender Ria Percival has signed a new contract with Tottenham Hotspur, with the versatile defender set to remain in north London until the summer of 2025.
The two-and-a-half-year extension arrives a few weeks after the 33-year-old New Zealand international returned to the training pitch for the first time in eight months amid her ongoing rehabilitation from an ACL injury suffered during an international friendly against Australia last April.
Percival played a pivotal role in firing Rehanne Skinner's side to their highest-ever league finish last season before the injury cut her time on the pitch short.
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Deployed at full-back and defensive midfield, Percival put in inexhaustible performances that made for memorable and historical shocks, including victory over Manchester City in September and a 1-1 draw with Manchester United, secured through a spectacular curled free-kick from Percival in the fifth minute of stoppage time that also marked her first goal for the club.
And as Percival's fitness journey crests into its final stages, Skinner will look to lean on the versatility of an experienced player, who has made 60 appearances in all competitions since signing for the club in July 2019 from London rival West Ham United.
Percival's contract extension comes during a busy transfer window for Spurs, who notably acquired the signatures of Bethany England and Mana Iwabuchi on a permanent deal from Chelsea and on loan from Arsenal, respectively.
Skinner's side have yet to find a victory in the league since their 8-0 rout of Brighton & Hove Albion at the end of October, leaving them sitting eighth in the league and 14 points off fourth-place Manchester City.
Since sustaining her ACL injury, Percival has faced a race against time to reach full fitness ahead of the summer's Women's World Cup, which her country is co-hosting alongside Australia. After making her senior debut for New Zealand at just 16-years-old, Percival has won a record 160 international caps to date and helped the Football Ferns to four Women's World Cups (2007, 2011, 2015, 2019).
Spurs return to action on Wednesday evening when they host reigning league champions Chelsea in the quarter finals of the FA WSL Cup, more than 10 days after their last competitive fixture after their league clash with Leicester City was called off due to a frozen pitch at Brisbane Road.
The postponement marked the second time this season Spurs were forced to rearrange a league fixture held at home due to pitch issues, after their league clash against Everton in November was postponed less than three hours to kick-off due to the Brisbane Road pitch being waterlogged.
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