Gareth Southgate is delighted David Wheater has declared his loyalty to Middlesbrough as the club starts life in The Championship.
Boro were relegated on the last day of the season following 11 top-flight campaigns and many believe there will be a mass exodus at The Riverside.
Wheater, who was recently called up to the England squad, has pledged to help Boro regain their Premier League status, delighting manager Southgate.
“I’m absolutely delighted that David has publicly stated his commitment to the club for next season,” he said.
“For a young player who has already been involved in the England squad to be so readily prepared to stay on and lead our fight to regain our Premier League status is a great message for the rest of the squad.
“David is a local lad and proud of it. Middlesbrough is his club and relegation hurt him as much as it hurt anyone.
“Like all of us, he’d rather be in The Premier League but it’s good to know he’s ready and willing to drop down to The Championship and help us bounce back.
“He is exactly the kind of player, with the right mental attitude, that we will need next season and I’ll be delighted to have him on board.”
Wheater, 22, will miss the European Under-21 Championships to undergo surgery on a knee cartilage tear.