Gvardiol commits to Manchester City until 2031, rejects Bayern and Real Madrid

Josko Gvardiol has signed a new five-year contract extension with Manchester City, committing his future to the club until 2031, with an additional option for a sixth year. The 24-year-old Croatian defender rejected interest from Bayern Munich and Real Madrid to remain at the Premier League club.

Gvardiol joined Manchester City from RB Leipzig in 2023 for €90 million (approximately $99.2 million), making him one of the most expensive defenders in football history. During his time at the Etihad Stadium, he has won five major trophies, including the Premier League title and FA Cup. He made 122 competitive appearances for City and was a key player under former manager Pep Guardiola, though he missed significant time in the second half of the 2025-26 season due to a shin fracture sustained in January.

City's director of football Hugo Viana praised Gvardiol as "one of the best defenders in the world" and emphasized the club's commitment to retaining top talent. According to reports, Manchester City presented Gvardiol as one of three "central pillars" of the squad alongside Phil Foden and Erling Haaland during contract negotiations, reflecting his strategic importance to new manager Enzo Maresca's plans. The deal reportedly included a significant salary increase.

Gvardiol stated his satisfaction with the decision: "As soon as I knew City wanted to renew my contract, I felt straight away it was what I wanted. It's the best club in the world to be at." He expressed confidence in the squad's youth and potential, saying "I truly believe we will have a lot of success in the coming years."

Bayern Munich had shown concrete interest in Gvardiol, but withdrew from negotiations due to the player's high valuation. Real Madrid also pursued the left-footed defender, with new manager Jose Mourinho reportedly a keen admirer of his versatility across defensive positions, but similarly stepped back from the deal. Instead, Real Madrid signed Ibrahima Konate on a free transfer. Gvardiol aims to return to full fitness before Manchester City's Premier League season opener against Bournemouth on 23 August.