Fulham winger Willian wants to build on his superb first season at Craven Cottage after rejoining the Whites yesterday.

The Brazilian international, who starred on his surprise return to the Premier League last September, completed his U-turn over his Fulham future by signing a new deal with London’s oldest professional cub yesterday – having initially rejected a contract extension and letting his short-term deal in SW6 expire at the end of last month. The former Chelsea and Arsenal veteran turned down a big-money offer from Nottingham Forest to commit his future to the Cottagers and he told FFCTV of his delight this morning:

“I’m completely happy – happy to sign one more year with Fulham, happy to continue the work that I did last season with all my team-mates and the whole club. I think it’s a club that can do even better this season, so I’m happy to continue this amazing adventure. I think it feels like home to me already. It always was my preference to come back to Fulham, to renew my contract and I finally did it so I’m fully happy.”

Head coach Marco Silva proved pivotal in the 34 year-old’s abrupt change of heart, having demanded that the Fulham hierarchy improve the terms they had originally offered to one of his key players last season.

“Marco is a guy that I have all the respect for. He’s an amazing person and for me a top manager, one of the best in the league. It’s a pleasure for me to work with him.”

Willian, who scored five goals in thirty appearances as Silva’s side finished tenth last term, also disclosed how persuasive persistent messages from his team-mates and the Fulham fans were in convincing him to return to the club for another year.

“I spoke with some of them, especially the Brazilian ones. They always said to me to stay and to renew my contract. It is good to get these messages from them and I’m happy to back! They were very happy [yesterday] when they saw me but I told Andreas to not do that. I said to Andreas, ‘don’t put it on social media because I need to sign first, but he said, I don’t care, you are here!’

I have thank you for all the support. The Fulham fans have been amazing with me from the first day. I just want to continue doing the best thing that I can do inside the pitch for them, scoring goals, making some assists, playing better and better every game – so that’s what I want to do for them. It was an amazing season last year and we have the opportunity to carry on the hard work: our levels must not drop now.”