Manchester City midfielder Phil Foden signs new four-year contract

By George Aldridge — 22 July 2026 — 3 min read

Foden Commits to Manchester City

Phil Foden, the Manchester City midfielder, has signed a new four-year contract, extending his stay with the club until 2030. This agreement comes as his previous deal was set to conclude next summer. Foden will continue his career under the guidance of new head coach Enzo Maresca.

Foden expressed his enthusiasm for remaining at the club, stating that committing his future to City means everything to him. He highlighted that playing for the club has always been his aspiration and that wearing the shirt is an honour. He also acknowledged being part of a historic period marked by numerous titles, while emphasising the team’s continuous drive for future successes.

Hugo Viana, City’s Director of Football, shared his pride in Foden, noting that the player embodies the positive aspects of the club’s Academy. Viana described Foden as a unique talent whose creativity is a pleasure to observe. He also attributed Foden’s achievements to his focus, dedication, and humility, along with his ability to learn from coaches and teammates.

Foden made his first-team debut at the age of 17 under former manager Pep Guardiola. Since then, he has accumulated 369 appearances for City, contributing to the team’s success in securing six Premier League titles, one Champions League, and two FA Cups. Viana added that Foden’s continued success is celebrated across the club, from academy staff to fans, given that he joined City at the age of nine.

Reuniting with Enzo Maresca

A significant aspect of Foden’s contract extension is the opportunity to work again with new manager Enzo Maresca. Maresca, who previously served as an assistant to Guardiola during City’s Treble-winning 2022-23 season, has been appointed as Guardiola’s successor. Foden shared his excitement about Maresca’s return, recalling the Italian’s positive impact during their previous collaboration.

Foden described Maresca as brilliant during the Treble season, a figure respected and admired by all the players. He confessed that he “can’t wait” to work with Maresca again, indicating a strong rapport between the player and the new head coach. The squad is reportedly eager to reunite with Maresca, who was also a former City academy manager.

During Maresca’s tenure as assistant, Foden experienced a notable increase in his goal contributions. This progression continued into the 2023-24 campaign, where he recorded 19 goals and eight assists. However, the subsequent two seasons saw a less productive output, with Foden scoring seven goals and providing five assists in 33 Premier League games last season, and seven goals and two assists in 28 top-flight matches the season prior.

Recent Seasons and Future Outlook

Foden’s role within the team has seen some changes in recent campaigns. Last season, faster options like Jeremy Doku and Antoine Semenyo were often deployed out wide to supply striker Erling Haaland, while Rayan Cherki frequently played as the playmaker in an attacking midfield position. This meant Foden occasionally played in a deeper role, which impacted his ability to score and deliver key passes.

Despite these shifts, Foden remains one of only three Premier League players to have scored 10 or more goals in all competitions over the past six seasons, alongside former Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah and Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins. His career-high performance came the year after City’s Treble-winning season, where he registered 27 goals and 12 assists.

Foden was not included in Thomas Tuchel’s England World Cup squad in May, following an inconsistent season where he made only 23 Premier League starts. The Professional Footballers’ Association commented that Foden had been a “victim” of football’s demanding fixture schedule, noting that he “has not been the version we saw two years ago.”

Viana expressed optimism about Foden’s continued development, stating that at 26, his growth as a player is still ongoing. The club looks forward to seeing what Foden can achieve in the coming years.

Source: bbc.com