Story byManchester City star to consider signing ‘contract for life’ – Erling Haaland deal replicatedCity XtraThu, December 4, 2025 at 11:00 AM UTC·3 min readEtihad Stadium bosses are eyeing up a significant new contract for Manchester City star Phil Foden, in a deal similar to the package handed to Erling Haaland. Foden has made a strong start to the 2025-26 campaign, reminiscent of the levels the England international consistently managed in his personal best 2023-24 season, wherein he led his boyhood club to a fourth successive Premier League title and won the PFA Players’ Player of the Year award for his heroics. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe 25-year-old underwent a difficult 2024-25 season and has admitted in several interviews that the relentless physical demands of professional football as well as mental issues away from the game derailed him from producing his best form for the Blues last term, as Guardiola tackled their most challenging year since his arrival to England in 2016. However, following a late start to the season on account of fitness issues, Foden has gone from strength to strength after marking his first start of the 2025-26 campaign with a brilliant header in a 3-1 derby win over Manchester United at the Etihad Stadium in September. The Stockport-born attacker scored twice in City’s 3-2 win over Leeds United on Saturday, including an injury-time winner to salvage a vital three points for the Blues and avoid a third occasion wherein they dropped points in a week. Foden was on fire on Tuesday evening as well, scoring a sensational strike from distance in the first-half in City’s 5-4 win over Fulham at Craven Cottage before grabbing a second just after the interval – further underpinning his importance to Manchester City and Guardiola. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThere is an elephant in the room to address though, with Foden into the last two years of his current deal at the Etihad Stadium amid a period of rebuild at the club, who appointed Hugo Viana as director of football in the summer to build a young, hungry side capable of lifting major trophies in the seasons to come. Having tied Ruben Dias, Rico Lewis, Nico O’Reilly and Savinho to long-term deals since August, officials at the Etihad Stadium are expected to soon open contract renewal talks with Foden’s representatives as they look to keep hold of one of their own as the Englishman enters his prime. According to the information of TEAMtalk, Manchester City are now progressing with contract talks for Foden and expect the Englishman to commit to the club on a long-term deal, with the player himself eyeing a deal ‘for life’. With Erling Haaland having committed his own future to Manchester City until the summer of 2034, it is now being reported that a similar deal is in the works for the poster boy of the club’s prestigious academy. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementViana is said to have been advancing in talks with Foden’s camp in recent weeks and the club now see an extension of terms as a matter of ‘when he signs, rather than if’, with Foden already one of the most experienced and seasoned players in Manchester City’s existing first-team squad. Foden’s heroics in recent months have also earned him a place back in the England setup and his first call-up under Three Lions boss Thomas Tuchel, who will surely be rooting for the forward to keep shining for Manchester City ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.