David Brooks has endured a monumental struggle to return to the Premier League and pursue the career he loves. The 28-year-old has had his ups and downs in his career, but he has persevered and worked tirelessly to return to the level of performance he achieved before his cancer diagnosis.  

However, he has now re-emerged in the highly-anticipated defensive role, playing a vital role in the Premier League and having started all four of our matches in a row, while the Wales international has been unrivalled in creating key chances early in the season.  

The 28-year-old is a determined player for whom a return to the Premier League wasn't accidental but inevitable, and he admits that a number of factors have contributed to his return to his current form under the management of Andoni Iraola.  

David Brooks said: “After everything I’ve been through, it’s been tough getting back into the team. I’m grateful to Russell Martin for taking the opportunity when I was itching to play and to Bournemouth for their support, not only helping me find my place back in the team but also facilitating my loan move to Southampton.”  

“My first goal after joining on loan was to return to the Premier League, and now I’m on that path. I hope to maintain my consistency and contribute to the team. However, that stage in my career and the loan experience played a key role. When you don’t have the ideal playing time, it is really difficult to get back to form.”  

"At this stage of my career, I need game time and I need to work hard to show my best and prove that I can play regularly. That, combined with a good pre-season, is probably why I'm sitting here."  

“This is the first time in recent seasons that I’ve been able to complete a pre-season without any injuries and be able to fully demonstrate my physical condition, which has definitely helped me a lot. The team has a great squad and I know I have the ability to compete at this level, but it has been a difficult journey. Now everything is ready and I’m in good shape.”  

With seven years of top-flight experience, David Brooks is now one of the most senior players in the Bournemouth dressing room. The 28-year-old midfielder has played over 150 games for the club and has just signed a new long-term contract. This extension has been well-received by the fans, and he looks forward to continuing to create many more memorable moments with them in the years ahead.  

He said: "I am very satisfied with this new contract. The past seven years have been full of ups and downs, but also very fulfilling. As I have often emphasized in recent years, I have been working hard to return to the team. Now I am very pleased to be able to stay and hope to create more good memories in the future."  

"The support from the fans is incredible and I want to keep giving my all for the team. I don't feel I'm getting old, but with the club constantly bringing in young and dynamic players, it does sometimes make me feel older."  

"I'm one of the oldest and most experienced players in the team. That's the way it is in football. You improve as you gain experience, and I'm enjoying the increased responsibility I've been given."