Queens Park Rangers playmaker Adel Taarabt committed his future to the London club by signing a new long-term contract extension.

The 23-year-old, who moved from Tottenham Hotspur in 2012 after two successful loan spells, signed a three-year contract extension which will keep him at the club till 2016. "I am very pleased to have signed this new contract," the Moroccan told the club's official website.

"When I first arrived here I honestly thought it would just be for a short period but I love this Club and the people here have really helped me and I am very happy to be here.

"I had a tough start to the season last year, but I worked hard and I have really enjoyed it under Mark Hughes.

"The Club is getting bigger and bigger, and with a new training ground and talk of a new stadium it is very exciting.

"In the time I have been here QPR's ambition has changed. Last year the aim was to stay in the Premier League. We achieved this and now we want to progress and improve.

"Nobody is speaking about what we can achieve but we really want to move up the Premier League table."

Taarabt also changed his shirt number and will wear the famous No 10 jersey, made famous by QPR legends Stan Bowles, Rodney Marsh and Kevin Gallen, next season. "This means a lot to me personally.

"I was happy with the '7' but I know '10' is very important at QPR. Special players like Bowles and Marsh have worn this.

"The Club told me that the fans want me to have this shirt. So if this makes the fans happy too, it is even better for me."

"Before I came to the Club I didn't really know too much about the number 10 shirt and what it meant, but I have heard lots about it, and about what fantastic QPR players wore it. So to have it is very, very special for me.

"If the fans believe I have the ability to become as good as these players before me, that is massive. This puts a little bit of pressure on me but I am ready for the challenge."

New signing Park Ji-Sung, who completed a move from Manchester United earlier this week, will now wear the vacated No 7 shirt.

QPR manager Mark Hughes said Taarabt was a big part of the club's future plans. "It is important that we keep good, young players at QPR because that is going to drive what we want to do and Adel is a big part of that," the former Manchester United player said.

"There is no question he can produce moments of skill that not many players can.

"And you need those game-changing players who can do something unexpected because that can be the difference between winning and losing in tight games.

"Adel had a period here where it was a little bit difficult for him and the club, but he came through that. When I came to the club, in my eyes it was a clean slate for him and he had a real opportunity to be part of what we are doing."

"I have seen a real effort from Adel and the quality of his work last year was good, both in an attacking sense and defensively. He has embraced what we are trying to do.

"He is undoubtedly a talented boy but he understands he has got other aspects of his game which he needs to work on and he has shown a real effort to do that.

"Defending is not a natural part of Adel's game but he understands that there is an obligation for any player who plays for me to recognise it's not all about playing when we have the ball in our possession.

"Adel and many of the players here understand that the club is looking to go in a forward direction and they want to be a part of it."