The so called “Stockport Iniesta”, Manchester City young player Phil Foden has committed his future to the Club today by agreeing a new long term deal.
There has long been speculation that Manchester City were about to secure the long term future of Phil Foden and today the Club confirmed agreement had been reached and the 18 year old had signed a 5 and a half year contract extension. This new deal effectively ties the young Phil Foden to City until 2024.
Whether Foden realises the full potential he has and becomes a first team regular at Manchester City or whether he moves on, is not yet clear but the new deal has served to protect this young asset and would appear a shrewd move by the City board.
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Foden rose to prominence as part of the Elite Development Squad at Manchester City, as part of the same Youth side as Jadon Sancho and Brahim Diaz. Pep Guardiola began to make plans to integrate these exciting youth team players into his first team squad, almost immediately upon his arrival at City.
Guardiola promoted the young players to first team training back in 2016 but these plans were somewhat undermined by the contract stand off which arose with Jadon Sancho and culminated in him going on strike and effectively forcing a move abroad. Press reports have highlighted how Sancho wanted assurances about playing time which City have been reluctant to give – citing that established first team players do not enjoy the benefit of guaranteed first team appearances.
Ironically it seems likely that Sancho would have got his first team chance if he had stayed at Manchester City and perversely the Club may have been unlikely to enter into the transfer of Mahrez as an additional attacking midfielder.
Regardless of this a similar contract stand off has emerged with Brahim Diaz, with reliable press reports suggesting he will move to Real Madrid on a free transfer at the end of his youth contract at City. Against this background it has therefore been important that City secured the long term future of Foden.
Foden now has an opportunity to secure a more regular position within the Manchester City first team squad and must seek to cement this by gaining more time on the pitch in the coming year in order to really reach his full potential. Alternatively this Stockport Iniesta will have to achieve game time on loan at other Clubs as part of his ongoing development.