Oliver Gildart has signed a new three-year deal with Wigan.
The 21-year-old had been linked with a move away from the Warriors, with his contract set to expire at the end of the season.
St Helens, the Warriors’ major rivals, had been linked with a move for the centre, while Gildart himself had admitted he was open to a move in the NRL.
But he has now committed his long-term future to Wigan, where he has emerged as one of England’s most promising players since debuting in 2015.
He has already appeared in two Grand Finals and was named as Super League’s Young Player of the Year in 2017 after scoring 15 tries in 20 appearances.
“This has been a very delicate negotiation as Oliver was not short of offers,” he said.
“If truth be known, it has probably taken a little more time that we would have anticipated but I am confident that this is the right decision for club and player.
“We have beaten off strong competition from a number of leading clubs in both the Super League and in the NRL to keep Oliver at Wigan and I’m thrilled that he has agreed this new contract.
“One of the best centres in the competition on his day, he is a credit to the Wigan Academy system and a fine example of both the player and man that we look to develop here. I can still remember the confident 14-year-old kid coming into the Club. We all felt that he had an exciting future and we have been proved right. Oliver now needs to set his targets high and realise his potential. The international stage is where he should be showcasing his talent and that can’t be too far away.
“I know how much this club means to him and we are delighted that we could come to this agreement. Oliver’s best years are ahead of his and I look forward to seeing his career develop.”
Gildart added: “Wigan is the club I’ve been at for a while now and I’m really happy to have signed at the club again for the next three years.
“I love playing with the team we have here and to have played in so many big games so early on in my career has been great.
“I think I’ve got lots of improvement left in me and want to play in more finals and win more silverware and winner’s rings over the next few years.”
