Manchester City have confirmed veteran defender Kyle Walker has signed a new contract until 2026.
Walker was a crucial figure at the back during the Cityzens‘ treble-winning campaign of 2022/23, especially towards the backend of the campaign when Pep Guardiola brought in a 3-2-4-1 formation. He has also fought off competition from Reece James and Trent Alexander-Arnold in recent years for England’s regular right-back spot.
He told the club’s website: “We have no excuses. Everything that we have here, the facilities, the chefs, the kitmen, the nutritionists, it’s all top.
“So if they’re providing what they can do or at their very best it gives us no excuse not to go out and perform at our very best. There’s no excuses.
“And we should demand that from us as a group of players. We know that this club and this organisation has brought in the very best at what they do.
“So we just need to make sure that we turn up every game day, put them three points on the board and moving on to the next one.”
Walker had previously confirmed he was close to inking fresh terms at the Etihad Stadium earlier in September, also admitting a move to Bayern was close to materialising.
After breaking through at Tottenham, 33-year-old Walker joined City in 2017 for an initial £45m rising to £50m with add-ons and has since won five Premier League titles, four Carabao Cups, two FA Cups and the Champions League.
He was criticised by Guardiola during the successful 2022/23 season in April for lacking the ‘educated movements’ required to play infield but brushed that shade off by being a regular in the league side that usurped Arsenal before excelling in two clashes with Vinicius Junior and Real Madrid in the Champions League semi-finals.
What we know
- England defender ends speculation over his future by signing new deal
- Walker had attracted interest from Bayern Munich during the summer
- Had previously been criticised by Pep Guardiola during 2022/23 season
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