France defender Mikael Silvestre has signed a four-year contract to stay at Manchester United.

The 25-year-old's current deal was due to expire at the end of the season and under Fifa rules he would have been able to speak to other clubs from 1 January.

"I am delighted I am staying on at United," he told the Manchester Evening News.

We can see a terrific future for Mikael at United Sir Alex Ferguson

"I want to achieve more great things here. I want to put United back on top in England and Europe."

Despite his contract negotiations dragging on, Silvestre insisted he had no intention of leaving Old Trafford.

"Looking for another club and weighing up other possible moves after January was never in my thoughts," he said.

"The only reason negotiations have gone on a bit is that you can't get it all sorted in one appointment."

Silvestre, who joined United in September 1999, has been in excellent form since switching to central defence six matches ago with Rio Ferdinand and Laurent Blanc injured.

"When you enter the final year of your contract you do get little worries about whether the club will offer you a new deal," he said.

"I was a bit preoccupied by it. But I decided I had to forget it and focus on my football. Fortunately the club moved quickly and offered me a new deal."