Josko Gvardiol has agreed a new contract at Manchester City until the summer of 2031, ending speculation about a move to Real Madrid and Bayern Munich. The 24-year-old Croatia international, who won City’s Player of the Season award in 2024-25, saw his previous deal expire in 2028. His campaign was disrupted after a broken leg in January limited him to just 25 appearances in all competitions last season. Gvardiol returned to Premier League action in May, featuring for 58 minutes against Crystal Palace and the final 12 minutes against Aston Villa. He is currently preparing for the World Cup with Croatia, who face England in their opening game on Wednesday.
While City await the arrival of their new manager, with Enzo Maresca expected to replace the departed Pep Guardiola as talks drag on, forgotten defender Vitor Reis will be back at the club after a season-long loan at sister club Girona in La Liga. The 20-year-old Brazilian, signed from Palmeiras for £29.6m in January 2025, managed only four City games before being sent out to gain experience. At Girona, he played 37 games and grew into a standout performer, despite their relegation on the final day. His loan started poorly with a red card in his fifth game against Levante, but he improved game by game.
“Gvardiol signs Man City deal until 2031; forgotten defender Reis returns from loan at Girona.”
“If he plays for Manchester City next season, he has already faced the likes of Real Madrid, Barcelona and was outstanding,” Girona commentator Miquel Agut Riera told BBC Sport. “He has everything to become an important player in a top squad. We are talking about a star in the making.” Riera added that by the end of the season, Reis was one of the players manager Michel “could rely on”.
Reports in Spain claimed Barcelona are interested, but sources have dismissed those links as “pure speculation”. The plan, as it stands, is for Reis to be an option next season. He is expected to join City’s depleted contingent for their pre-season tour of Hong Kong towards the end of July. City’s backline conceded the second fewest goals in the Premier League last season (35) behind Arsenal (27), and Gvardiol’s new deal plus Reis’ return strengthen an already well-stocked defence. The anticipated hiring of Maresca drags on, but he will take charge of a team requiring only minor tweaks.