Ghanaian giants Hearts of Oak have been given a massive boost as captain Robin Gnange has finally extended his expiring contract with the struggling Accra-based side, GHANAsoccernet.com can exclusively reveal.

The Ivorian born defender penned a new two-year deal with the Phobians at the club’s headquarters in Accra on Monday night after months of difficult negotiations between the two parties.

The deal comes as a massive boost for the Phobians ahead of Sunday’s epic clash against arch rivals Asante Kotoko in Accra as they are now certain that they will not lose their top players with relegation looming.

Gnange’s new deal also allays fears that he will swap Hearts colours for rivals Kotoko’s after dithering over the terms of the new deal.

The elegant defender has now signed an improved and lucrative contract with that will leave him at the club until July 2017.

The snail movement of negotiations between the Hearts management and the player’s representative fuelled talks of his exit from Hearts but now their supporters can be assured that their intelligent defender will stay.

Gnange joined Hearts of Oak three seasons ago from defunct Red Bull Academy.