Phil Foden has signed a new contract keeping him at Manchester City until 2030 — and he's made clear that Enzo Maresca's arrival is a big part of why he's not going anywhere.
"I can't wait to work with Enzo again," Foden said. "He was brilliant during the Treble season — someone all the players respected and loved working with." That's a meaningful endorsement. Maresca wasn't just a tactical footnote during that 2022-23 campaign; he was embedded in the culture that made City so difficult to play against. Foden saw it up close.
Twenty trophies and still hungry
At 26, Foden has already won 20 major trophies at club level — a number that would represent a career highlight for most players. For him, it's the baseline. The contract extension through 2030 puts him at City until he's 32, comfortably covering what should be his peak years.
He was left out of England's World Cup squad, which would have stung. But rather than let that fester, he's channelled it into locking down his future at club level. That kind of response tends to produce good football.
City's title odds don't take a hit here — if anything, they get a small boost. Keeping Foden off the market while transitioning from Pep Guardiola to Maresca is exactly the kind of continuity the club needed to signal that the post-Guardiola era won't be a rebuilding project. It's a statement of intent.
What Maresca inherits
Director of football Hugo Viana was effusive — "a unique talent," "creativity is a joy to watch" — but the more telling part of his comments was this: "At 26, his development is still ongoing." That's not spin. Foden has improved every season, and a manager who already knows how to get the best out of him is a genuine advantage.
Maresca takes over a squad that has lost some of its landmark names. Foden, who joined the academy at nine, is now one of the senior figures. The torch has passed — and he seems to know it.
