Impact defender Luis Binks to remain with MLS team through 2021

English defender Luis Binks will remain with the Impact through next season, the team announced on Wednesday.

“Despite his young age and his little experience at the professional level, Luis played an excellent first season with us,” Impact sporting director Olivier Renard said in a release. “He showed what he can bring to this group and we’re happy to know he’ll keep progressing in our club for another year.”

The 19-year-old centre-back is in his rookie season with Montreal and had been expected to be transferred to Bologna FC 1909 at the end of December. He’ll now remain with the Impact through Dec. 31, 2021.

In a recent interview with the Montreal Gazette, Binks said he aspired to return to Europe, but admitted remaining in Major League Soccer one more season, while gaining experience, might also be in his best interest.

He joined the Impact in February, after being acquired from Tottenham Hotspur FC. In his rookie season, he started 20 of 21 games, logging 1,762 minutes.

Coincidentally, Binks was on the bench last Sunday, for the Impact’s regular-season finale against D.C. United, although he entered the match in the 82nd minute, replacing Jorge Corrales. Manager Thierry Henry had been critical of Binks in the previous game, against Orlando City.

The Impact defeated the United 3-2 to qualify for the playoffs and will meet the New England Revolution, Nov. 20, in an Eastern Conference play-in game, hoping to advance to the quarter-finals.