Joe Edwards extends Argyle contract to 2026

Joe Edwards has signed an extension to his Argyle contract, tying him to the club until the summer of 2026.

The announcement of the Argyle captain’s renewal comes at the end of a week which began with Edwards scoring a glorious winning goal against Sunderland, capping off a 3-2 victory in front of the Babcock Devonport End, and giving the Greens their first win of the season.

Speaking in an interview which will be first broadcast in full on Saturday morning’s Argyle Breakfast show on Argyle TV, Joe said: "It’s amazing. I love this club. I love playing for this club.

"I’m familiar with the place and with what it feels to be an Argyle player. To get another year to keep doing it is really special for me and my family."

Joe is now 59th on the all-time list of Argyle appearances, with 228 to his name. He is likely to break into the top 40 before this season’s end.

Edwards was Ryan Lowe’s first signing, in the summer of 2019. Playing mostly in the centre of midfield as Argyle attained promotion from Sky Bet League Two, Edwards played a major part in the success of that season, but surely few could have foreseen what lay ahead for him as a Pilgrim.

Given the captain’s armband following the retirement of Gary Sawyer, and switching to be a versatile wing-back, Edwards made himself an invaluable part of the Pilgrims’ setup.

In the promotion-winning season of 2022/23, Edwards was a leading figure, but his usual goalscoring touch seemed to have eluded him. That was until the run-in when Joe scored three goals in the final five games, including a precious equaliser at Shrewsbury Town, and a goal in the title-clinching win at Port Vale.

Fast forward a year, and having fallen somewhat out of favour, Edwards came back into the team for the run-in, helping Argyle accumulate sufficient points to stay in the Sky Bet Championship. His crowning glory was one of the greatest individual performances in the season’s final game, against Hull City. Not only was he everywhere, making blocks and driving Argyle on, but he scored the goal that won the game, and ultimately kept Argyle up.

At the start of this season, he has played superbly and, approaching his 34th birthday next month, looks as fit, sharp and effective as he has ever done.

Few would argue against the assertion that Joe has become a true club great, for his performances, his leadership, his ability to provide huge input at crucial times and, perhaps as much as everything, his connection with the Green Army.

Anyone with green and white in their heart can see that Joe feels what we feel, in victory and defeat, and his commitment to the cause is unwavering.

The news that he will be extending his stay is a perfect way to round off one of his best weeks in our colours – and that is truly saying something.