Derby County have triggered an extension clause in Joe Ward's contract to keep the versatile wing-back at the Championship club until the summer of 2027.
The 30-year-old was into the final three months of his initial three-year deal that he signed when arriving at the club in 2023 from Peterborough United.
He helped the Rams to promotion from League One in his first season at Pride Park and has made a total of 66 appearances in a injury-hit three-year spell that had him contemplating his future in the game.
Ward spoke to BBC Radio Derby earlier this season about considering retirement after missing much of last season and having to undergo knee surgery for the second time in as many years.
He is Derby's leading assists provider with nine this season and has been praised by Rams boss John Eustace for being a "great character" whose "performances have been excellent".
"Joe has proved that he's more than capable of playing at Championship level, and his quality has been there all season with his assists," Eustace told the club website.
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