Manchester United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar has agreed a new 12-month contract to stay at Old Trafford next season.

"Van der Sar has signed a new contract for another year. He will be here as a player next year," manager Alex Ferguson told reporters on Friday.

"We are pleased with that because his consistency and experience has been a great help to this club."

The former Ajax and Juventus goalkeeper joined United from Fulham in June, 2005 and helped United regain the English premier league title last season.

Van der Sar, 37, recently announced that he plans to retire from international football after playing for the Netherlands in the 2008 European Championship finals.

But he is evidently keen to prolong his club career, with Ferguson welcoming the competition he will have for the goalkeeping position next season when the highly-rated Ben Foster will also be fit following a long-term knee injury.

"I am sure he (Van der Sar) will want to be number one and I am sure Ben Foster will give him a good challenge," Ferguson said.

Ferguson also confirmed that United plan to talk to France [Images] international defender Patrice Evra about a contract extension but said Wes Brown had still not agreed terms for a new deal.

Brown could leave Old Trafford on a free transfer in the off-season.

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