Manchester City have locked down one of their most valuable defensive assets. Josko Gvardiol has agreed to a contract extension that will keep him at the Etihad Stadium until 2031, a deal that effectively doubles his original commitment to the club.
The 24-year-old Croatian international arrived at City from RB Leipzig for $90 million in August 2023, signing a five-year deal at the time. This new extension adds three years to that original agreement, which was set to expire in 2028, and comes on improved financial terms.
From $90 million signing to cornerstone defender
The extension didn’t materialize overnight. Reports from earlier in 2026 suggested City were working on a deal that would run until 2030, with an optional year tacked on to reach 2031. That optional year became a permanent fixture in the final agreement.
Sports journalists Nicolo Schira and Fabrizio Romano had both reported in recent weeks that the deal was essentially done, with only final approval standing between Gvardiol and his new contract. That approval has now come through.
