Manchester City’s Gvardiol signs new contract

By Sanjay Menon — 28 July 2026 — 3 min read

Manchester City has announced that Josko Gvardiol has signed a new contract with the club. The Croatian international joined City in the summer of 2023 from RB Leipzig and has since become a key player for the team.

Gvardiol has made 122 appearances for the club, scoring 13 goals. During his time at City, he has contributed to the team winning six major honours, including the Premier League, FA Cup, League Cup, FIFA Club World Cup, UEFA Super Cup, and Community Shield.

The defender has also been a regular for the Croatian national team, earning 52 caps and participating in the 2026 FIFA World Cup finals. His new contract extends until 2031, securing his long-term future with Manchester City.

Gvardiol’s Journey and Impact

Gvardiol, who was 21 when he arrived at City, quickly established himself as a versatile defender capable of playing both as a central defender and a left-back. His debut season saw him help City secure the 2023 UEFA Super Cup in Piraeus, Athens, where they defeated Sevilla 5-4 in a penalty shoot-out after a 1-1 draw.

A second trophy followed in December of that year when Gvardiol featured in City’s 4-0 victory over Fluminense, which saw them crowned 2023 FIFA Club World Cup champions. He scored his first City goal in a UEFA Champions League quarter-final match away at Real Madrid, which ended in a 3-3 draw. He also scored a brace in a 4-0 victory at Fulham during May 2024.

During the 2024/25 campaign, Gvardiol continued to perform consistently, making 55 appearances. He also helped the team win the 2024 Community Shield and scored a crucial goal in an FA Cup semi-final against Nottingham Forest.

Gvardiol’s progress was temporarily halted by a broken shinbone sustained in January during a home draw with Chelsea, which sidelined him for a significant part of the season. However, he recovered in time to play for City at the end of the season and joined the Croatian squad for the 2026 FIFA Club World Cup.

Future Prospects and Club’s Vision

Upon signing his new deal, Gvardiol expressed his excitement, stating that he felt it was what he wanted as soon as he knew City intended to renew his contract. He praised the club’s support and the quality of his teammates, believing they will achieve significant success in the coming years.

Hugo Viana, Director of Football, highlighted Gvardiol’s qualities, describing him as a young, outstanding professional and one of the best defenders globally. Viana emphasised the club’s commitment to retaining top talent and noted Gvardiol’s versatility, speed, strength, and attacking prowess.

Viana also commended Gvardiol’s conduct, calling him a young man determined to be the best, which aligns with the club’s vision. Gvardiol’s contract extension comes after he was linked with other major clubs, including Bayern Munich and Real Madrid, in recent months.

City reportedly made the extension more appealing with a substantial pay rise. Bayern Munich had shown interest in May, but reports from June indicated they had withdrawn from the race. Real Madrid also had Gvardiol on their radar, with their new coach Jose Mourinho reportedly being a fan of the player.

Gvardiol is now focused on being fully fit for the start of the new Premier League season. He anticipates achieving great things with the new coach, Enzo Maresca, who succeeded Pep Guardiola at the end of the recently concluded season.

Source: mancity.com