BRYCE Gibbs is almost certain to be a Blue for life after signing a lucrative new five-year deal with Carlton.

Gibbs, 25, was set to become a restricted free agent at the end of this season and the South Australian had been heavily courted by Adelaide earlier this year.

But Carlton has been confident of keeping Gibbs all season, with outgoing CEO Greg Swann saying last month a new long-term deal had almost been reached.

The deal was finalised on Monday night when approved by Carlton's board, with Gibbs now tied to Visy Park to the end of 2019.

It is understood the midfielder will earn about $600,000 a season under his new contract, but could have earned more than $700,000 a year if he had gone home.

After a relatively slow start to 2014, Gibbs has produced the best football of his career in recent rounds, having assumed more and more of the inside load in Carlton's midfield.

He is averaging 25.1 possessions a game in 2014 – up from 22.3 a game last season – and leads the Blues in clearances (5.6 a game), contested possessions (10.9) and inside 50s (4.1).

Gibbs played one of the best individual games of 2014 in Carlton's round 12 loss to Geelong, finishing with 29 possessions and four goals.

Taken by the Blues with pick No. 1 in the 2006 national draft, Gibbs has since played 178 of a possible 183 games, and finished third in the Blues' 2009 and 2011 best and fairest awards.