Phil Foden has signed a new contract at Manchester City, keeping him at the Etihad until 2030 with the option of a further 12 months. The 26-year-old is eager to start the new Premier League season under new manager Enzo Maresca, who previously served as Pep Guardiola's assistant during the Treble-winning season.
Foden and Maresca worked together in the 2022/23 campaign, with Foden spending extra sessions on his finishing under the Italian. Foden played a key role that season and kicked on again the following campaign, inspiring City to a fourth successive title and earning individual awards.
Fresh Start After Summer Break
Foden hasn't hit those heights since, despite a purple patch early last term, but has returned from a summer off refreshed. He was left out of the England squad for the World Cup and has returned to training in top condition, excited to reunite with Maresca. The hope at City is that the extended break – his first summer off in three years – and the certainty over his future will help him rediscover his best form.
Foden still managed 10 goals last season, but all came before Christmas, and he found regular starts harder to come by under Guardiola in the second half. He will now have a full pre-season with City and a chance to nail down a starting spot in Maresca's first XI.
Excited for Maresca Era
“Very exciting,” Foden said of the Maresca era. “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 and it suits my game really well. I'm looking forward to that and hopefully it can help my game go to the next stage.
“Obviously, I've had Enzo before. When we had him in the Treble season, he was brilliant. His attention to detail, the small things that make a big difference, and even training with him at the moment, you can tell how good of a coach he is. I'm really excited to play under him and see where it goes.”
Veteran Presence in Young Squad
Foden will be one of the more experienced heads in the City dressing room next season and is comfortably the longest-serving player, having arrived as a nine-year-old. The likes of Bernardo Silva and John Stones moved on this summer, but plenty of talent has arrived. Foden is relishing the role of mentor and is confident the future is bright.
“It's got a really good mix of young, fresh legs and a bit of experience and players that have won a lot of things and players that maybe haven't,” he said. “But I think that balance is so good to have and hopefully we can keep pushing each other in training to get better and fight for titles and that's the aim, that's the team we want to be - competing for every trophy we can.”
