Benjamin Henrichs reaches two-year extension with Bayer Leverkusen

Benjamin Henrichs has agreed a two-year contract extension that will keep him with Bayer Leverkusen through the 2021-22 season, the club announced on Wednesday.

The 20-year-old defender joined first joined Leverkusen's Under-8 team in 2005. He was selected by Joachim Low for Germany's World Cup qualifier against San Marino on Nov. 11 and was included in the Confederations Cup squad announced on Wednesday.

"It's great for me that the club I've been at since I was 13 years old has given me all these opportunities," Henrichs said in a statement posted on the club's website. "I'm very happy I've made it as a professional and an international at Bayer. At Leverkusen, I've always been shown so much confidence, encouraged and developed. Now, after a difficult season, I want to help the club to get back to the level that Bayer stands for."

Henrichs has appeared in 36 games in all competitions this season for Leverkusen, including seven of eight UEFA Champions League games, and has made 33 starts.

"Benny has developed an outstanding quality over the last year and a half and that has made him attractive to big clubs in Europe," sporting director Rudi Voller said in the statement. "That made it even more important for us to keep in here for the long term. Benny is not just a top player but also a role model at Leverkusen. He's played for Bayer since he was a kid and he will be one of the players to help form a promising and effective team again."

Leverkusen, 12th in the Bundesliga table with 38 points, will finish their season on Saturday at Hertha Berlin. They have not finished with 38 or fewer points in the table since the 1995-96 season.

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