By Bilal Khan 
Manchester City midfielder Phil Foden has signed a new four-year contract, extending his commitment to the club until 2030. This new agreement means Foden will remain with the team under new head coach Enzo Maresca. His previous contract was set to conclude next summer.
Foden’s journey with City began when he was given his first-team debut at the age of 17 by former manager Pep Guardiola. Since then, he has accumulated 369 appearances for the club, contributing to significant trophy wins. These include six Premier League titles, one Champions League, and two FA Cups.
Expressing his feelings about the extension, Foden stated that committing his future to City means everything to him. He noted that playing for the club has always been his aspiration and wearing the shirt is an honour. He also acknowledged being part of a historic period with numerous titles but emphasised the team’s continuous focus on future successes.
Working with Maresca and recent form
Foden also shared his anticipation of working with Enzo Maresca again. Maresca served as an assistant to Guardiola during City’s Treble-winning 2022-23 season. Foden described Maresca as brilliant during that period, someone all the players respected and enjoyed working with.
Despite his achievements, Foden was not included in Thomas Tuchel‘s England World Cup squad in May, following a season that saw him make 23 Premier League starts. His output in recent campaigns has been noted as less productive compared to the year after City’s Treble-winning season, where he recorded 27 goals and 12 assists.
Last season, Foden scored seven goals and provided five assists in 33 Premier League games. In the campaign prior, he registered seven goals and two assists across 28 top-flight matches. The Professional Footballers’ Association commented on Foden’s exclusion from the World Cup squad, suggesting he had been affected by football’s demanding schedule.
Foden’s career milestones
Foden, who is from Stockport and supported City as a child, joined the club at the Under-9s level. He is now considered one of the more experienced players in Enzo Maresca’s updated squad. His career statistics highlight his impact at the club.
He shares the distinction of being the most decorated player at City alongside John Stones and Bernardo Silva. His trophy haul includes six Premier League titles, five League Cups, three FA Cups, three Community Shields, one Champions League, one UEFA Super Cup, and one FIFA Club World Cup.
Foden has been a significant goalscorer for City, with 68 of his goals coming in the Premier League, 20 in the Champions League, and 12 in the FA Cup. He has also scored six goals in the League Cup and four in the FIFA Club World Cup. The 2023/24 season marked his most prolific campaign, with 27 goals across all competitions, earning him the Premier League Player of the Season, PFA Player of the Year, and FWA Footballer of the Year awards.
In addition to his goal-scoring, Foden has provided 68 assists in a City shirt. With 369 appearances, he is moving up the ranks for most games played for the club. He is currently 25th and is expected to surpass players like Ederson, Frank Swift, and Fernandinho early in the upcoming campaign. Since becoming a regular in the 2019/20 season, he has averaged almost 48 appearances each season. Should he maintain this average, he could reach 14th in the overall rankings by the end of the 2026/27 season.
Foden’s first senior appearance for City was in November when the team defeated Feyenoord 1-0 at the Etihad.
Read Also
Source: bbc.com
