Christian Benteke has withdrawn his transfer request and instead agreed a new deal at Aston Villa, the club have announced.
The striker has committed his future to the club until 2017 after a "full and frank discussion" with manager Paul Lambert. It marks a sudden change of heart from the 22-year-old, with Villa confirming only 11 days ago that he had asked to leave.
Villa manager Paul Lambert said: "I had a full and frank discussion with Christian Benteke on his return to training this week regarding his future. It is my opinion that the best thing for Christian is to remain at Aston Villa.
"He enjoyed a terrific first season at the club and can use that as a platform to hopefully enjoy more success this season. I'm delighted, having time to re-evaluate his future, Christian has decided to commit to the club. It's a huge bonus and I'm sure the supporters are every bit as delighted as me to have him on board and raring to go."
Benteke added: "I spoke with the manager when I returned to training and we had a good talk. I am very happy to be back here in Birmingham and at Aston Villa, and to sign a new contract. This is a great club and it has given me a lot. Now I have to give back to my team-mates and the fans who have always been right behind me.
Christian Benteke agrees a contract extension to keep him at Villa until 2017. http://t.co/vXkIwaXsNg #AVFC
— Aston Villa FC (@AVFCOfficial) July 19, 2013
"The end of last season was very good and the lads were very strong. It was not easy but we came through it and the confidence is high. So everyone knows what we have to do now - be better. I need to be better than last year."
Keeping Benteke is a huge coup for Villa, with the Belgium international establishing himself as one of the Barclays Premier League's most feared strikers in his first season at the club. Signed from Genk last summer, he scored 19 Premier League goals to help keep the midlands club in the top flight.
It was in general a season of struggle for Villa, who battled relegation for much of the campaign before finishing five points clear of the drop. News of Benteke's new deal came hours after Villa confirmed right-back Matt Lowton had signed a new four-year contract.
Lowton, 24, impressed in his first season at Villa after moving from Sheffield United. Fellow defenders Ciaran Clark and Nathan Baker, midfielder Ashley Westwood, striker Andreas Weimann and goalkeeper Brad Guzan have also agreed new deals this summer.
