Manchester City have agreed a new five-year contractplaceholder image
Manchester City have agreed a new five-year contract | Getty Images
The latest Manchester City transfer news and gossip ahead of the final weeks of the summer window.
Rico Lewis is expected to sign a new five-year deal with Manchester City after a breakthrough in contract talks.
The 20-year-old has been in conversation with his boyhood club over improved terms this summer and had attracted serious transfer interest amid the uncertainty surrounding his future. Several clubs were interested in a deal to sign Lewis, with Nottingham Forest the most advanced in their pursuit of the versatile defender.
City rejected a £25 million bid from Nottingham Forest last week before he shone in their opening day win over Wolves at Molineux. The youngster was left out of the squad for the FA Cup final defeat to Crystal Palace back in May, but reiterated he always wanted to remain at the Etihad Stadium this summer.
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Lewis caught the eye with an assist in City's victory over Wolves on Saturday evening, and talks over a contract extension advanced earlier this week. It is understood that the youngster will officially sign a two-year contract extension until June 2030, which will secure him an improved five-year deal overall.
Taking to social media on Wednesday afternoon, transfer guru Fabrizio Romano confirmed the news after it was initially broken by The Daily Mail. "Rico Lewis has agreed to sign new deal at Manchester City valid until June 2030," he posted on X. "The agreement is done, as @Jack_Gaughan reports. Deal off with Nottingham Forest after City rejected £25m bid last week."
Speaking after the opening day win over Wolves, Lewis reiterated his desire was to remain in Manchester despite the strong transfer interest in his signature. "I've never ever seen myself at a different club - I've always wanted to play for City," he told reporters. "It's my dream club, and like you see (at Wolves), when I'm playing with the kind of players that I'm playing with, it brings out the best in me, so I'm so happy."
Lewis has only started five of the last 17 matches for City and admitted there was still an element of uncertainty about the role he would play going forward. The youngster has been done a disservice due to his incredible versatility, but is viewed as a key squad player by Pep Guardiola.
"‘It's difficult," he added. "Everyone wants assurance and security, but at the end of the day, it's on me. It's on me to perform. It's on me to take the chances when I do. After that, there's nothing I can't blame myself for. If I take my own chances, I do it. If I don't, then I have to work and get better. Last season I played more than the season before, this season I want to play more than last season, so it's always the same goal - becoming an established player."
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