Enzo Maresca has been on the training pitch this week, taking charge of his first sessions as Manchester City manager. The players who returned early — those who missed the World Cup or didn't go deep into it, plus a handful of the club's younger talents — have been putting in the work ahead of the 2026-27 campaign.

The FA Cup and Carabao Cup holders are officially back in business.

Friday's unveiling

Come Friday, Maresca will face the media for the first time in his new role. It is expected he will update on the players who have trained this week and offer a glimpse into his plans for the side. Whether he goes into detail on tactics or philosophy remains to be seen — it would be a surprise if he did — but there is at least hope he provides some indication of what lies ahead.

There have been clips of him taking charge this week. Friday will be the first proper public viewing.

A different voice

One thing Maresca will not be in that press room is Pep Guardiola. Guardiola was larger than life in front of the cameras, charismatic and often fascinating to listen to. Maresca will bring his own presence, and how he handles the occasion is worth watching.

He has waited for this opportunity. He left his post at Chelsea last season because City came calling about succeeding Guardiola. Friday is the first step in making that decision public in a real way.

It does represent the first public viewing of a new era at Manchester City.

It is only a press conference. But it is the first of many, and it marks the moment the post-Guardiola era begins in earnest.

Manchester City confirmed this afternoon that Phil Foden has signed a contract extension keeping him at the club until the summer of 2030. The news arrived via the club’s official channels — a brief tweet on July 22, 2026 — but for anyone who has watched Foden rise through the academy ranks, it carries weight beyond the usual renewal announcement.

Foden is a local lad. That matters at a club where the connection between the terraces and the pitch can sometimes feel stretched by global ambition. He holds a special place in the hearts of City fans, not just for the trophies — and there have been plenty — but for the simple fact that he came through the system and stayed.

Speaking after the extension was made public, Foden said committing his future to City means everything to him. “Playing for this club is all I’ve ever wanted to do and it’s always an honour to wear the shirt,” he explained. It is the sort of line that can sound rehearsed, but coming from someone who has been at the club since childhood, it lands differently.

He acknowledged the scale of what he has been part of. “It’s not lost on me that I’ve been lucky enough to be part of a historic period with so many titles won,” Foden said. The numbers back him up: 20 major trophies since breaking into the first team, including the 2023/24 season when he was named PFA Player of the Year, FWA Footballer of the Year, and Premier League Player of the Season as City secured a historic fourth consecutive league title.

The contract runs until 2030. That takes Foden through his prime years at the Etihad, assuming all goes to plan. He thanked the club, staff, team-mates, and fans, adding: “I hope I’ll be able to repay you for years to come.”

For a player who has already given so much, that feels less like a promise and more like a statement of intent.

Rodri has added a World Cup winners' medal and the Golden Ball to a collection that now leaves no major gap. The Manchester City midfielder captained Spain to glory and was named the tournament's best player — an individual award that matched his influence on the biggest stage.

At 30, he has now won everything. Literally.

The Golden Ball, given to the standout performer across the competition, recognises a player who has been central to Spain's run. For City fans watching from afar, it was further confirmation of what they have seen week in, week out since his arrival at the Etihad.

There is no major trophy left for him to claim. Premier League titles, Champions League, European Championship with Spain, and now the World Cup — the list is exhaustive. The question, perhaps for Maresca and the coaching staff, is how to keep a player who has achieved it all still hungry for more when the 2026-27 season begins on 23rd August.

'He has completed football with no major trophy left for him to claim.'

Pre-season starts against Inter Milan on 1st August. Rodri will arrive back at the CFA with a Golden Ball in his luggage and the knowledge that his place in the game's history is now beyond dispute. For a player who arrived relatively unheralded from Atletico Madrid, the trajectory has been remarkable — but that is a story for another day.

Wednesday's Manchester City news round-up landed with five items, two of which — the Ayyoub Bouaddi chase and Phil Foden's contractual situation — received proper follow-up treatment. The other three were, in the main, background noise. One of them, however, involved a player actually leaving the building.

Matty Warhurst completed a permanent move to Northampton Town for a modest £100,000, with a sell-on clause built into the deal. The 22-year-old forward had been on the periphery for some time, and the move represents a clean break rather than a loan. Northampton get a player who, at that fee, represents low risk with potential upside. City get a small fee and a stake in whatever comes next.

Bouaddi and Foden dominate the remaining attention

The Bouaddi story continues to develop, though the round-up offered little in the way of resolution. Likewise, the Foden situation received the kind of sustained coverage that suggests something may be brewing — or at least that the club are keen to clarify the narrative. Beyond those two, the remaining items filled space without shifting the needle.

Pre-season begins against Inter Milan on 1st August. The squad will want some of these loose ends tied up before then.

Arsenal did not go quietly. They tabled competitive scholarship terms to keep a player they had identified as a key part of their long-term academy pipeline. Manchester United also entered the race. City prevailed anyway.

Another academy coup

Nduka, born on 3 April 2010, joined Arsenal from Charlton Athletic in September 2025 and made an immediate impression: 10 Under-18 appearances, two at Premier League 2 level, a UEFA Youth League outing, and seven England Under-16 caps. He will join City initially on scholarship terms, with a professional contract to follow once he reaches the eligible age.

The move is another sign that Hugo Viana's first summer at the club is delivering at both senior and youth levels. Enzo Maresca's arrival has done nothing to slow the long-term planning. City's Youth Cup win in May — a 2-1 final victory over United — and the sight of Nico O'Reilly progressing through the system to play for England at a World Cup provide the selling points. They clearly still work.

The 26-year-old, who joined the club's academy at the age of nine, has been one of the defining figures of the most successful period in City's history. His 369 appearances, 110 goals, 68 assists and 20 trophies — including a central role in the 2022-23 treble — tell their own story.

Negotiations had been ongoing since the latter part of 2025, according to sources, and the deal was finalised on the eve of pre-season.

'Committing my future to City means everything to me. Playing for this club is all I've ever wanted to do and it's always an honour to wear the shirt.'

The Stockport-born attacker also acknowledged the transition underway at the club. 'As many of the legends who were here when I first broke through move on, I am excited for the next phase of my career at this great club,' Foden said.

That next phase will be under newly-appointed manager Enzo Maresca, with whom Foden has previous. '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. To have him back here is exciting.'

The Athletic's Sam Lee reports that Foden is considered a central part of Maresca's plans. The news comes as the club completed the signing of Elliot Anderson for a club-record £116 million from Nottingham Forest, suggesting significant squad reshaping is underway this summer.

Director of football Hugo Viana described Foden as a 'unique talent' whose 'creativity is a joy to watch', but stressed the player's work ethic. 'None of what he's achieved would be possible without the focus, dedication and humility to work hard in every moment and absorb all the knowledge available through our coaches and players,' Viana said.

At 26, Foden's best years may still be ahead of him. Viana certainly thinks so: 'His development is still ongoing, and we look forward to seeing the player Phil can become over the coming years.'

City’s search for attacking reinforcements could reveal plenty about the direction Enzo Maresca wants to take the team. The club have been linked with a number of young wingers this summer, including RB Leipzig’s Yan Diomande, as they assess their options in the wide areas.

However, the need for another winger could depend on what Maresca sees in Savinho. The Brazilian arrived last summer with a reputation as a direct, dribbling wide man, but his first season at the Etihad was a mixed bag — flashes of brilliance interrupted by long stretches on the periphery.

Whether he is seen as a long-term starter or a squad player will shape the club's approach in the market. If Maresca trusts Savinho to take on a bigger role, the Diomande interest might be more about depth. If not, City could be preparing for a more significant reshuffle in attack.

And with pre-season starting against Inter Milan on 1st August, the clock is ticking.

City have reached an agreement in principle on personal terms with Lille midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi, according to journalist Nicolò Schira. The 18-year-old is understood to have accepted a contract that would run until June 2031, the clearest sign yet that the Blues' long-running pursuit of the Morocco international is nearing a breakthrough.

Talks with Lille continue. The two clubs have not yet finalised a transfer fee, though the personal terms deal suggests the gap is narrowing.

What Bouaddi would bring

At 18, Bouaddi already has senior international experience with Morocco and has broken into the Lille first team. A contract until 2031 — seven years — would represent a significant commitment from both sides.

Whether he arrives in time to feature in pre-season remains to be seen. City's first friendly, against Inter Milan, is on 1st August. The new Premier League season starts on 23rd August.

City have already brought in Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest and Jeremy Monga from Leicester City as Enzo Maresca shapes his squad for the coming campaign. The departures have been just as significant. Nathan Ake has joined Fenerbahce, Bernardo Silva has moved to Real Madrid, and John Stones remains without a club after leaving at the end of last season.

The defensive ranks could thin further. Jose Mourinho is reportedly interested in Ruben Dias.

Rodri's Situation

Then there is Rodri. The midfielder was outstanding in the 2026 World Cup, reminding everyone of his quality after spending much of the last two seasons on the injury list. His current contract expires at the end of the upcoming season, which naturally raises questions about what happens next.

No bid has arrived. No formal talks have been reported. But with 12 months left on his deal, the clock is ticking.

Foden Set to Stay

On a brighter note, Phil Foden is reportedly due to sign a new contract that will keep him at the club until the summer of 2030. That would represent a statement of intent from a player who has been with City since childhood.

Securing Foden long-term feels like the kind of business that settles a dressing room. The Rodri situation, by contrast, is a loose end Maresca could do without as his first season approaches.

Pre-season begins against Inter Milan on 1st August. The squad is taking shape, but some questions remain unanswered.

Vinicius Jr's decision to publicly wish Erling Haaland a happy birthday on Instagram has, predictably, done little to quieten the noise around his future at Real Madrid. The Brazil international, who turned 26 in July, joined Jude Bellingham in the comments section of Haaland's birthday post — a small gesture that has been seized upon by those who read meaning into every digital interaction between elite players.

What gives it weight is the context.

Vinicius's current contract at the Bernabeu runs until June 2027. That sounds secure enough until you learn that talks over a renewal have stalled at a significant impasse over salary demands the club has been reluctant to meet. The winger is seeking a salary comparable to that of Kylian Mbappe, understood to be in the region of €30 million per season. Real Madrid's most recent proposal fell considerably short of that figure.

Deadline approaching

Real Madrid have now set a clear deadline for the renewal talks. The club are understood to be unwilling to allow Vinicius to enter the final year of his deal without an agreement in place, and have signalled an openness to a sale this summer should a proposal arrive that satisfies their financial requirements.

Arsenal is reported to be among five Premier League clubs being kept informed of developments. Bayern Munich, meanwhile, is understood to have made an approach. The usual suspects are circling.

City's position

For City, the situation is worth monitoring, though not yet worth acting upon. There is no credible suggestion at this stage that the Blues are among the clubs in direct contact over Vinicius's situation. That may change, but it hasn't yet.

The winger position remains one of the areas in which City are actively seeking to strengthen. Director of football Hugo Viana and Enzo Maresca are overseeing a rebuild with a clear sense of structure and priority. Viana has a stated desire for an attacker capable of dribbling and creating chances with passes — a description that fits Vinicius Jr like a glove. The £116 million arrival of Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest suggests the budget exists for a statement signing if the right opportunity presents itself.

Whether the Norwegian striker's birthday post was a nudge or just a social media nicety is impossible to say. But in a summer where Real Madrid's patience is finite and City's shopping list is not, it is a detail worth filing away.

Manchester City have secured a deal for Arsenal midfielder Mishel Nduka, with the teenager expected to undergo a medical in the coming days. David Ornstein of The Athletic broke the news, adding another promising name to the club's youth ranks.

The move is a swift one. No protracted negotiations, no last-minute snags — just an agreement and a medical on the horizon. For a player of Nduka's age, that speed suggests City moved decisively once they identified their target.

Ornstein's report confirms the deal is done. The medical is the final formality before an official announcement, which should follow shortly after.

Nduka arrives from Arsenal's academy, where he has been regarded as one of their brighter prospects. City's recruitment operation has been tracking young talent aggressively in recent windows, and this signing fits that pattern. Whether he progresses through the Under-21s or steps straight into the EDS setup remains to be seen, but the club's track record with developing midfielders speaks for itself.

The move also represents a small victory in the arms race for the country's best schoolboy talent. Arsenal will not be thrilled to lose one of their own to a direct rival, but these things happen when City come calling with a clear pathway and the kind of facilities that turn heads.

More to follow as the medical is completed and the paperwork is signed.

City have formally agreed a deal to sign Mishel Nduka from Arsenal, closing out a pursuit first reported on this site back on 9 July. The 16-year-old is expected in Manchester for a medical before joining on scholarship terms, with a professional contract lined up once he reaches the appropriate age.

David Ornstein confirmed the agreement. Standard stuff for this kind of move — the sort of low-profile capture that tends to go under the radar outside the academy circuit.

Nduka is the latest in a growing list of youngsters to swap north London for the Etihad Campus in recent windows. City's recruitment operation continues to cast a wide net, and Arsenal's production line at Hale End has been a fertile hunting ground. Whether this one progresses through the ranks or gets loaned out further down the line remains to be seen, but for now, it is another piece of business done quietly and efficiently.

Newcastle United have been told the asking price for Tijjani Reijnders. The message, essentially, is that there isn't one. Manchester City are not interested in selling the Dutch midfielder unless an extraordinary offer lands at the Etihad — the kind of bid that makes you reconsider everything.

Reijnders joined City from AC Milan last summer and turns 28 next week. In his debut Premier League campaign he contributed five goals and two assists across 26 appearances. Not headline numbers, perhaps, but the club value what he does beyond the stats sheet.

According to a new report, director of football Hugo Viana and newly-appointed manager Enzo Maresca both regard Reijnders as central to their plans. That assessment has been reinforced by the departures of Mateo Kovacic and other fringe midfield figures, which have already thinned the options available to Maresca.

Newcastle's interest

Newcastle have registered interest in Reijnders, part of a summer recruitment drive that has already seen them beat City to the signing of Sandro Tonali. The Magpies may fancy their chances again, but the asking price is likely to give them pause.

City are looking to strengthen their midfield this summer, not weaken it. The £116 million signing of Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest has been accompanied by active pursuit of further additions. Letting Reijnders go would run counter to that logic.

Reijnders offers a particular combination of technical quality, physical intensity and tactical intelligence that has made him genuinely difficult to replicate in the market.

O'Rourke's suggestion that Reijnders would not be right at the top of the list of Newcastle's summer reinforcements is perhaps the most pragmatic takeaway from the report. The Magpies have other priorities. City have no intention of making this an easy one.