West Ham have triggered a one-year option in Pablo Zabaleta's contract at the club and the veteran defender has penned a new deal with Manuel Pellegrini's team.
The 34-year-old was out of contract at the end of the current campaign and Pellegrini has repeatedly insisted he wanted to keep the Argentine defender at the club for another year.
The manager has got his wish as Zabaleta will remain with the Hammers until the end of next season, extending his stay in the capital into a third campaign having joined the club from Manchester City on a free transfer in the summer of 2017.
"It's great news and I'm so happy," the defender said.
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"I'm enjoying my time at West Ham and I've got so much respect and so much passion for this profession. I'm still enjoying it and it's made me feel I can go for another year.
"I just want to focus on what we're doing with the Club and with the team this season and be ready to go again next season, because I just want to enjoy every single moment."
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Zabaleta has made 65 appearances for the Hammers since joining the club, 26 of them this season as he has been the regular right back once again. The Hammers signed Ryan Fredericks last summer to compete with the south American but Fredericks' injury problems have seen Zabaleta play the majority of the campaign.
While he has extended his stay in the capital, it is likely that the two-time Premier League winner will play a reduced role next season behind Fredericks, should the latter stay clear of any major injury problems.
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