Aston Villa midfielder Fabian Delph has put pen to paper on a new four-year deal.

The 21-year-old joined the Premier League club from Leeds United in August 2009 for £6m.

Delph told his club’s official website: “I am absolutely delighted. The club has shown great commitment in me by offering me this deal and I was more than happy to sign it.

“I am happy and my family are happy – so everyone is happy. I want to push on now, improve and play a part as we look to finish the season on a high and build for next season.

“I am really pleased to have extended my association with the club.”

Villa manager Gerard Houllier added: “I know Fabian hasn’t played a lot for us because he has just got over his long-term injury but we are very confident he will become a very good player for Aston Villa.

“The fact he signed the contract means he trusts us too.

“I think he’s a good footballer, he will get stronger and stronger and he will improve his game.

“When you sign a player – or re-sign a player – you need to make sure he has the right attitude for the club and the fans and Fabian certainly fits that bill.”

Michael Carrick has committed his future to Manchester United by signing a new three-year contract.

The former West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur midfielder is now tied to the Premiership club until 2014.

United manager Sir Alex Ferguson told his club’s official website: “I am delighted Michael has signed a new contract. He has been outstanding since joining us from Tottenham Hotspur in 2006, he is a true professional and it’s great he has committed his future to the club.”

Carrick, 29, added: “I am thoroughly enjoying my time at this great club. There is fantastic team spirit within the squad and I’m pleased to have committed my future to United. We are in a very good position at the moment and I am confident this team will be successful for many years to come.”

Northampton Town have fired manager Ian Sampson.

The League Two club are currently 16th in the league, just 10 points above the relegation zone.

Northampton Chairman David Cardoza told his club’s official website: “The club must always come first but that doesn’t make this decision any easier.

“I, my fellow Directors, the staff and supporters all wanted Ian to succeed.

“I really hoped Ian would prove a successful manager here, but I did not see enough signs that we were improving as a side. Ian had put together a decent squad, and in a way that made our league position all the more unacceptable, and we are at a crucial time of year.

“I wanted to make this change now to give us time to go through a detailed recruitment process and to give the new man time to assess the squad before the end of the season, to look at the budget for next season and have a full summer to recruit and make the changes they see fit.

“No one is ruled in and no one is ruled out as we begin our search for our next manager. I think this will be an attractive job. We were one of very few clubs in League 1 or League 2 to spend money in January and we have some talented players under contract for next season with plenty of scope for any additions to be made in the summer.

“This appointment will be one of the biggest decisions since I have been here, we need to get things as right on the field as we are off it.”