USA goalkeeper Tim Howard is set to complete a decade at Everton after extending his contract at the Premier League club until 2016.

The 33-year-old Howard has played 256 games for Everton since joining from Manchester United in 2006, initially on loan before signing a permanent deal in February 2007.

“It’s a place that is home for me,” Howard said in an Everton statement on Thursday.

Howard’s consistent performances for the northwest club have helped him keep the goalkeeper jersey for the US national team, for which he played last week in the historic 1-0 win in Italy. He has played 72 times for USA.

Howard this season scored his first professional goal – a length-of-the-field effort in a 2-1 home loss to Bolton in January.

“When you have a really good relationship in life and both sides are eager to continue and keep that going, it’s a no-brainer,” Howard said of his new contract.

“This hasn’t been a knockdown, drawn-out type of negotiation with meetings or anything like that.

“They were very happy to keep me here and I was very, very happy to stay.”