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Phil Foden has signed a new contract at Manchester City, a move that suggests he could have an important role under Enzo Maresca, but Colin Hendry has told GOAL that the Blues may simply be “protecting the asset”. The home-grown Etihad Stadium talent has gone through a couple of difficult years, yet those fresh terms will also help to keep his market value high.

Foden snubbed by England in 2026 World Cup squad

There has been no sign that City are looking to sell, with Foden having made 369 appearances for them since emerging from the club’s famed academy system as a brilliantly gifted teenager.

He is a six-time Premier League winner and also has FA Cup, League Cup and Champions League success on an already glittering CV. Foden is still only 26 and remains a player with the ability to change matches when he is at his very best.

City, though, have not seen enough of that over the last couple of seasons, which led to the surprise disappointment of him being left out of England’s 2026 World Cup squad. Some serious questions are now being asked of Foden.

Even so, he has been handed a new deal running until 2030, with the contract also carrying the option of a further 12-month extension. Foden himself has spoken about welcoming a fresh start under Pep Guardiola’s successor, former City assistant coach Enzo Maresca.

Could Manchester City still cash in on Foden at some stage?

An immediate exit looks unlikely, with the Blues willing to continue showing faith for now, but when asked if City were safeguarding themselves by tying him down to a new contract, Hendry - speaking exclusively to GOAL in association with Lad Casino - said: “That's a good question because I thought he was going to kick on, but not even not making the England squad - you've Palmer as well that didn't make it.

“To be fair, England had an abundance of riches of midfielders-come-number-10s. But I think from a Man City point of view, it's definitely protecting the asset and something of value. Not sure a lot of the rest of the world, the rest of the league are thinking that way, but he's home grown and he has got to kick on again at some point.

“You're right when you say it's been two seasons of indifference for Phil Foden, but I still think that he's got a lot to give and if he can kick on and go again then he'll become a superstar of a player.”

Foden told a fresh start could do him good

At one point, Foden was being linked with a move elsewhere, and former Aston Villa striker Tony Cascarino told GOAL when reports emerged of interest from the West Midlands - with Morgan Rogers having left Villa Park for Chelsea: “Sometimes in your career, you need to have that something that gives you a real lift. You go, ‘right, now I'm going to play first team football’.

“And I don't think for Phil being an also-ran or in a squad and being a sub, that's like the start of his career at City. That's what he started as, that's what you do as a young player - you start, you earn your stripes, you get into the team, then you might get on as a sub, then you might convince the manager that he's going to start you now and again, then you're a regular.

“Phil Foden's gone the complete opposite way now, hasn't he? A new manager's come in, so that might change. But I think at his age and what he's achieved, I think if Phil Foden had the opportunity to go and play for a club, and a really good club at that, and give him that drive and that hunger again to prove people wrong, I think Phil needs that.

“Look what Phil's done in the last year-and-a-half. City have been successful in the last few years and Phil's ended up losing his place at City, not being in England's squad. So he's got to do something.”

Could Foden be the next club captain at Manchester City?

For now, the only definite step Foden has taken is to fully commit himself to the club that gave him his big break. He owes City everything and knows full well that he must start producing at the level expected of a regular in the Premier League and Champions League.

The captain’s armband has been handed to him at times during pre-season, while a permanent successor to the departed Bernardo Silva still needs to be named before the Community Shield meeting with Arsenal and the 2026-27 season opener at home to Bournemouth.