Joško Gvardiol is set to sign a new contract at Manchester City, a move that would keep the 24-year-old at the club he joined in 2023.
The agreement, reported as nearing completion on Monday, comes with Gvardiol already tied to a deal that runs until 2028 and with two years left to run on his current terms.
The numbers underline why City are moving to secure him: Gvardiol has made 122 appearances for the club since joining from RB Leipzig in a €90million transfer in the summer of 2023, contributing 13 goals and 10 assists and collecting the Premier League, FA Cup and Carabao Cup along the way. He was named Manchester City's player of the season for 2024-25.
His campaign last season was disrupted. Gvardiol fractured the tibia in his right leg in January and was sidelined for four months, limiting him to 25 appearances in all competitions. He returned to feature in two of City's final three games of the 2025-26 season.
Earlier on Monday The Athletic reported that Gvardiol intended to stay in Manchester and was considering a new contract offer. That development arrives in a summer of transition at City: Pep Guardiola is leaving after a decade in charge, long-serving midfielder Bernardo Silva and defender John Stones are departing after their contracts expired, and former Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca is expected to be appointed as Guardiola's successor.
Gvardiol's retention matters because he emerged as one of City's most reliable centre-backs despite last season's injury. The defender's recovery from a serious tibia fracture and his return late in the campaign demonstrated both fitness and form, facts that make his continued presence significant for a club rebuilding part of its spine.
The sticking point in the story is the summer interest he attracted. Top sides such as Bayern Munich had been linked to Gvardiol, and the defender was understood to have been tempted by a move this summer. Those external suitors are why the new deal will be read as more than a routine renewal: it is a response to concrete transfer interest and a signal that City want to keep their central defence settled ahead of managerial change.
Gvardiol arrives at this decision while still part of Croatia's national side. He was named in Zlatko Dalic's World Cup squad for the summer tournament, and Croatia began its World Cup campaign on Wednesday. His international commitments mean any formalities around a new contract may be concluded or announced while he is away with his country.
What remains unclear is the substance of the new deal. Reports say he is set to sign, but the length and financial terms of the contract have not been disclosed. City and the player have yet to release official details, leaving the key questions — duration, wage structure and any exit clauses — unanswered.
The next concrete step is a formal confirmation from the club and the player. If City announce the signing, it will complete one of their priority pieces of business this summer by securing a defender who has already proved his worth in Manchester and who had been a target for Europe's elite.
