Josko Gvardiol pictured with agent ahead of Manchester City future breakthrough | OneFootball

Manchester City have been handed a significant boost to their future options with Josko Gvardiol formally penning a brand new contractual agreement this week.

Gvardiol’s new deal brings an end to one of the more protracted sagas, with the 24-year-old having been strongly linked with a move to the likes of Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Barcelona – all of whom had been credited with interest at various points.

The Croatian’s now-previous contract had been due to run until 2028, but Manchester City moved decisively to extend those terms by three years rather than risk losing one of their most versatile defenders to a direct European rival.

The timing also fits a clear pattern at the Etihad Stadium this summer, with Gvardiol’s extension following Phil Foden’s new four-year deal and Abdukodir Khusanov’s contract through to 2031 – all confirmed just days apart from one another.

With John Stones and Nathan Ake having already left the club this summer, Manchester City’s hierarchy – led by director of football Hugo Viana – appear intent on building long-term stability around their remaining core as Enzo Maresca begins life as head coach.

Agent pictured ahead of Gvardiol’s contract breakthrough

Now, as provided by Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg, Josko Gvardiol has been pictured alongside his agent Marjan Sisic ahead of their arrival in Manchester on Monday following the Croatian defender’s summer break after the FIFA World Cup in North America.

The versatile defender has signed on to a brand new and improved contract at the Etihad Stadium until the summer of 2031, with the contract reportedly including a ‘significant’ salary increase

With media duties being completed on Monday too, a formal announcement on the player’s new agreement at Manchester City will come ‘soon’.

What the deal could mean for Man City’s defence

For Enzo Maresca, securing Josko Gvardiol’s services for the longer-term future removes one of the few remaining question marks over his back line heading into his first full season in charge.

The Croatian’s versatility – comfortable at both left-back and centre-back – gives the new head coach flexibility to adjust his system without needing to enter the market for reinforcements, in a summer where City’s business has otherwise centred on higher-profile forward additions.

With Manchester City’s defensive core now largely settled following Khusanov and Gvardiol’s respective extensions, attention may increasingly turn to Ruben Dias, whose own long-term future has been the subject of quieter but persistent speculation involving Real Madrid.