Uchida extends contract with Schalke

Japanese footballer Atsuto Uchida has agreed on a contract extension with German club Schalke.

Schalke's right back put pen to paper on a three-year extension to stay with the "Knappen" until June 2018, as his old contract expires at the end of the season, Schalke confirmed in an official statement Thursday, reports Xinhua.

"This is a good news for us. We have reached our goal by binding with Atsuto on a long term, who is incredibly reliable and plays consistently on good level," Schalke's manager Horst Heldt told the club's official homepage.

The 26-year-old defender joined Schalke from Kashima Antlers to score one goal in 132 appearances overall.

He has been part of the Japanese international squad since 2008, for whom he has scored two goals in 71 caps.

"Schalke is a very special club with wonderful supporters who have always supported me in the past few years. I want to thank our supporters with good performances in the next years," Uchida said.

Schalke currently sit in 12th position of the Bundesliga standings.