Phil Foden has signed a new four-year contract with Manchester City, keeping the 26-year-old at his boyhood club until 2030. The deal, which includes an option for an additional 12 months, secures the England international’s future amid a period of significant transition at the club.
The agreement confirms Foden as the club’s most decorated player with 17 major honours, a status he assumed following the recent departures of John Stones and Bernardo Silva. Having joined City’s academy as an eight-year-old, the forward has won six Premier League titles, the Champions League, three FA Cups, five League Cups, the Uefa Super Cup and the Club World Cup.
Struggles during final Guardiola months
Despite his historic achievements, Foden endured a challenging 2024-25 season that saw him lose his regular starting place under Pep Guardiola. He was left out of Thomas Tuchel’s England squad for the World Cup and revealed after the 1-0 FA Cup final defeat to Crystal Palace that he had been managing off-field issues.
Injuries also hampered his campaign. Foden played through pain following an ankle problem sustained in a challenge by Casemiro during April’s goalless draw at Manchester United. After starting the 2-2 league draw with Nottingham Forest on 4 March, he made only two further Premier League starts and was withdrawn shortly before the hour mark in the 2-1 FA Cup final victory over Southampton.
Reunion with Maresca
Foden expressed enthusiasm for working with new manager Enzo Maresca, who was part of Guardiola’s backroom staff during the 2022-23 treble-winning campaign. The midfielder believes Maresca’s possession-based philosophy will help revive his fortunes.
“Committing my future to City means everything to me. Playing for this club is all I’ve ever wanted to do and it’s always an honour to wear the shirt,” Foden said. “It’s not lost on me that I’ve been lucky enough to be part of a historic period with so many titles won, but we’re always looking to the future and trying to win more.
“I can’t wait to work with Enzo again. He was brilliant during the treble season – someone all the players respected and loved working with. To have him back here is exciting.”
Foden added: “You can tell by the first few sessions that I’ve done with him – the way he likes to play out from the back and play a lot of possession-based – it suits my game really well. I’m looking forward to that and hopefully it can help my game go to the next stage.”
Club confident of return to peak
Manchester City’s director of football, Hugo Viana, hailed Foden as a “unique talent” and emphasised that the player’s development remains ongoing.
“Everyone at Manchester City is incredibly proud of Phil. He represents everything good about our academy,” Viana said. “He is a unique talent, and his creativity is a joy to watch. None of what he has achieved would be possible without the focus, dedication and humility to work hard in every moment.
“At 26, his development is still ongoing, and we look forward to seeing the player Phil can become over the coming years.”
The new deal signals City’s determination to rebuild their squad around homegrown foundations as they target a return to domestic and European dominance.