Breaking News: Manchester City Prepares New Contract for Rico Lewis Until 2030

Manchester City continues to demonstrate its commitment to retaining its best young talent. Rico Lewis, the 20-year-old right-back who is a product of City’s academy, is reportedly close to reaching a new contract agreement with the club. Currently, Rico Lewis’s contract is valid until 2028. However, the club and the player’s representatives are discussing an extension that will keep him at the Etihad until 2030. Interestingly, recent reports suggest that this new contract will not include a release clause—a signal that Manchester City truly wants to make him a long-term part of Pep Guardiola’s project.

Accomplished Young Player

His debut with the first team came in the 2022/23 season under Pep Guardiola, and since then he has continued to show extraordinary potential. Lewis even scored a historic goal in the Champions League against Sevilla at the age of 17, making him City’s youngest goalscorer in the competition. Guardiola himself has praised the player’s tactical understanding several times, which he considers very mature for his age.

Lewis’s playing style stands out for his speed, aggression, and positional flexibility. Despite being relatively small for a Premier League defender, he has courage in one-on-one duels, clean ball distribution, and the ability to read situations that make him suitable for City’s attacking philosophy. These advantages often lead him to be projected as Kyle Walker’s successor in The Citizens’ defense.

In his short journey at the senior level, Rico Lewis has already won the 2022/23 Premier League trophy and contributed to the Champions League when City finally won the European title. With a long-term contract until 2028 and plans for further extension, he is seen as a future asset to the club. Not only for City, Lewis is also believed to be a future mainstay for the England National Team, given the combination of natural talent, hard work, and extensive experience he gained at a young age.

Interest from Other Clubs for Rico Lewis

• Nottingham Forest has submitted a formal offer of £30 million, and is even ready to double the player’s salary to entice him to leave Manchester City (Talksport, 19/08)
• Forest is the most serious club in pursuing Lewis after successfully securing James McAtee from City (The Guardian, 18/08)
• In addition to Forest, a number of other Premier League clubs are also monitoring Lewis’s situation, including Aston Villa, Brighton, Tottenham Hotspur, and Everton (TBR, 18/08)
• At the European level, names such as Bayern Munich, Juventus, and Atletico Madrid are also said to be interested in following the young defender’s progress

Player and Club Stance

• Rico Lewis has firmly stated his desire to remain at Manchester City, calling the club his “dream club” and asserting that he has never imagined playing for another club (The Guardian, 18/08)
• Pep Guardiola confirmed this, stating that Lewis has expressed his desire to stay, although the transfer market situation remains dynamic.
• Analysts from Sports Mole even believe City “has no choice” but to keep him, especially due to limitations in fulfilling the homegrown player quota and the lack of a suitable replacement at right-back (Sport Mole, 19/08)

Negotiation Status and Context

• Lewis’s current contract is valid until 2028, with Manchester City having started extension discussions. However, no final agreement has been reached yet.
• Although Forest is reported to have submitted a formal offer and offered an attractive financial package, negotiations are still ongoing and there is no certainty of a transfer (SportView, 19/08)

Reasons Why City Is Retaining Rico Lewis for the New Generation

Rico Lewis’s previous contract was valid until 2028, but Manchester City is now trying to secure him for longer, with an extension potentially until 2030. There are several reasons why the club is so serious about keeping the young player. First, the management sees Lewis as a strategic asset who will be an important part of The Citizens’ long-term squad. Second, his consistent performance last season, where he appeared in 44 matches across various competitions, is proof that Lewis is ready to compete at the highest level. Third, the full trust from Pep Guardiola also plays a big role, as the coach often gives him playing time in important matches. Fourth, Lewis’s own loyalty strengthens the reason for the contract extension, given that he affirmed that Manchester City is his dream club and he has no intention of leaving. Finally, the club also wants to financially reward him through a significant salary increase as a form of appreciation for his contribution and great potential.