Henry Pollock has confirmed his Northampton Saints future after signing a contract extension with the club.
As first reported by RUCK more than two weeks ago, the back rower will remain at Saints, with the new deal understood to run until 2029.
Pollock confirmed the news in a video posted on Northampton Saints' Instagram account..
Despite all the noise that has surrounded him, he has opted to stay with his boyhood club.
Pollock expressed his positivity after signing the deal.
“I’m massively happy to re-sign with Saints, my boyhood club,” said Pollock. “It’s an exciting place to be right now. We’re in a great spot as a team, but it feels like there’s still so much more growth in us.
“I’m still young, and we’ve got a young squad with a brilliant group of lads.
"Some of my best mates are here, and every day everyone pushes each other to improve and be the best players and team we can be. For where I am in my career, this is exactly where I want to be.
“I feel like we’re only just getting started. We won the PREM last season and we want to go again. Winning the Champions Cup is another huge ambition for us.
"We came so close a couple of years ago, and achieving that together would be incredibly special."
Agent Eddie Hearn has fuelled speculation over his client's future in recent months with suggestions that he could leave Northampton.
Hearn told Northampton in August that Pollock is "certainly a seven-figure player" due to the commercial value he brings, with the British & Irish Lions flanker embracing the £1m-plus valuation.
"I don't see it as pressure," Pollock said. "I see it as him doing his job. He's the best sports promoter in the world. The reason he's the best is because he gets his client what he deserves.
"Eddie's been great for me and he's given me so many avenues to get into. The way that he can give me access to loads of different stuff has been amazing.
"I have no bad words about him. The sport of rugby needs to change and hopefully this is a change."
RUCK understands that the two-year extension is worth in excess of £750,000 in total, making his contract worth just under £400,000 per year.
While not the £1 million originally suggested, it still makes the youngster one of the highest-paid players in the league.
Pollock hinted at his desire to remain at Saints last week, speaking positively about the club and his connection with Northampton.
"Northampton's been so great to me, I've been here my whole career and they've made me who I am. For me to stay here would be so special."
His future had been the subject of plenty of speculation, with suggestions of a move into rugby league, potential interest from France that could have ended his England career, and even a reported £1 million bid from Newcastle Red Bulls.
Despite being just 21, Pollock has already built an impressive list of achievements, making 49 appearances for Saints, earning 13 England caps and five British & Irish Lions caps, while most recently helping Northampton win the Gallagher PREM.
His performances have also made him one of the most recognisable young faces in British sport.
That growing profile led to Pollock becoming the first rugby player to join Matchroom Talent Agency earlier this year, underlining his increasing appeal both within the sport and beyond it.
