SHAUN Atley has turned his back on free agency to sign a new three-year deal with North Melbourne.

The 25-year-old speedster told the club website the original plan was to talk about his contract at season's end, but things changed in recent weeks.

"It's nice to have it out of the way before the end of the year," he said.

"The decision from me and my management, and from the club, was that we were going to wait until the end of the year, so it is a bonus to have it out of the way now.

"Playing in a new position as well, I haven't really played forward too much, I wanted to see how I would adjust to that, and the club was happy enough to offer a contract.

"I am rapt that it is done now."

The deal will take Atley to at least the end of the 2021 season with the Kangaroos.

Atley said there had been offers from rival clubs, but he told his manager Alex McDonald he didn't want to know too much about them.

"The way the club is going definitely played a role in me wanting to stay. I suppose after playing in two prelims over years, just to have that taste of finals, it makes you more determined than ever," he said.

"I want to achieve the ultimate success and I think what they are building at North shows that hopefully we are capable of that.

"We have probably been in a bit of transition period in the last couple of years with the older guys going out and filling it up with a lot of young guys. To their credit they have come in and played their roles and we have been able to get some wins on the board this year which always helps.

"It has been a very positive place lately."