The news has certainly ended something of a puzzle from the last three days. On Saturday, the Irish Examiner brought news of his new deal but until this morning there had been no confirmation from Burnley.
However, that came, and Long becomes the 13th player now committed to the club beyond the end of next season.
He first joined the Clarets in January 2010, hailed as a ready made Premier League defender by then manager Owen Coyle, but he had to wait not too far short of three years to get his first opportunity in the first team at Turf Moor.
By then he had enjoyed three separate loans at Accrington and further loans at Rochdale and Portsmouth before pulling on the shirt as a late substitute for Michael Duff in the 3-3 home draw against Sheffield Wednesday in October 2012.
A full debut came two months later in a 1-1 home draw with Watford and he later in the season played 11 of the last 14 games with Duff ruled out for many of the games.
He started in the team at the beginning of last season but Duff's return to fitness saw him edged out for much of the season after playing in the first four games.
With last Thursday's ill fated substitute appearance he's now made 22 league appearances for Burnley. He's added five cup appearances to that, and his one FA Cup appearance at Southampton last season brought his first goal.
He'll now at least be able to go through the surgery and the rehabilitation knowing that he's still going to be part of the squad at Burnley once he's fully recovered.