The England international joined City in the summer of 2017 and has been a key defender in our success over the last six years.
Walker has made 260 appearances on his way to winning five Premier League titles, two FA Cups, four League Cups, two Community Shields, the Champions League and the Super Cup.
The 33-year-old right-back’s current contract was due to expire at the end of the season but he has now put pen to paper on a two-year extension.
Walker said: “I’m thrilled to sign a new deal. My future is with Manchester City and that is the best thing for me.
“I’ve enjoyed every single moment of the past six years at this fantastic Club. I have an amazing coach, great team-mates and staff and our fans are the best. I feel supported on every single level.
“The Treble-winning season is one I will never forget and we’re ready to go again and try to win more trophies. I am delighted to continue at a Club that competes for trophies every year and I can’t wait to see what the next few years bring.”
Director of Football Txiki Begiristain added: “We are very happy that Kyle will be here until 2026.
“He is an outstanding footballer and his speed, strength and experience make him such an important member of our squad.
“For me, he is the best right-back in the world, a player with a unique set of attributes. He brings a very special dynamic to our team.
“Kyle has been a huge part of our recent success, and we are confident that he will help us compete for trophies in the upcoming seasons.”
Walker was named in the PFA Team of the Year after helping Pep Guardiola’s to the Premier League title in 2017/18 after helping us to collect a record 100 points.
Last season, he was chosen for the UEFA Champions League Team of the Season following our triumph, with the right-back particularly impressive against Real Madrid in both legs of the semi-final.
For England, Walker has won 78 caps and helped the Three Lions to the final of the 2020 European Championship when he was also in the Team of the Tournament.
Everyone at Manchester City is delighted with the news and we wish Kyle the very best for the coming seasons.
A dependable leader
Six years, fifteen trophies.
Kyle Walker mentioned an ambition to pick up silverware ‘left, right and centre’ during his first interview as a City player back in 2017, but even he couldn’t possibly have imagined the success the Club would experience across the next six seasons.
Five Premier League titles, eight domestic cups and, most recently, the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Super Cup. Walker’s been at the heart of them all.
At the end of his debut campaign, famed for City’s remarkable march to 100 points, he was included alongside David Silva and Sergio Aguero in the PFA Team of the Year for 2017/18.
It set the tone for a player who has shown remarkable consistency at the Etihad Stadium, becoming one of the longest serving and most important senior figures at the Club.
Those achievements have earned the respect of both team-mates and opponents over the years, with the likes of Marcus Rashford and Eden Hazard just two of the forwards who have named him as the toughest defender they’ve faced in recent years.
The striking attribute which perhaps acts as the cornerstone of that fearsome reputation is his astonishing pace, exemplified by his famous acrobatic clearance against Liverpool in the 2019 Community Shield final.
Speed is certainly a central part of Walker’s game, and, based on his reaction to a prank played on him involving a fake FIFA 22 card with an unflattering pace attribute, certainly something he takes pride in.
But to focus solely on that would do a disservice to the abundance of other qualities in his footballing repertoire.
Pace alone, for example, doesn’t make you one of the finest one-on-one defenders in world football. It also certainly wouldn’t have been enough to keep Vinicius Junior as quiet as Walker did during City’s memorable two-legged triumph over Real Madrid in the Champions League semi-finals.
The England international’s experience, intelligence and physical presence are often overlooked, but they are invaluable to a City side constantly striving to remain ahead of the curve under Pep Guardiola.
But Walker’s defensive capabilities are complemented by a supreme quality both in possession and in advanced areas of the pitch.
A recent example can be seen in his cutback for Phil Foden in August’s clash with Sheffield United, which proved pivotal in Rodrigo’s late winner at Bramall Lane and helped preserve our 100% start to the new Premier League season in the process.
The sight of Walker bombing down the City right remains as frequent as ever at the Etihad Stadium, and it was certainly something he was famed for in those early years under Guardiola’s guidance.
But his experience and intelligence mean the defender has adapted seamlessly to the fresh demands that the boss now places on his backline, particularly in the full-back position.
In the absence of Kevin De Bruyne, he’s even taken on the captain’s armband in the early weeks of the 2023/24 campaign as City set our sights on defending the Treble.
In short, whenever he or the team have been met with adversity or a new obstacle, the England international has stepped up to the plate.
Extending his stay at the Club until 2026, there’s no sign of Walker slowing down any time soon.
Walker’s City career stats
2017/18
Games: 48
Assists: 7
Honours: Premier League, Carabao Cup
2018/19
Games: 52
Goals: 2
Assists: 1
Honours: Premier League, FA Cup, Carabao Cup, Community Shield
2019/20
Games: 42
Goals: 1
Assists: 6
Honours: Carabao Cup, Community Shield
2020/21
Games: 42
Goals: 2
Assists: 1
Honours: Premier League, Carabao Cup
2021/22
Games: 31
Goals: 1
Assists: 2
Honours: Premier League
2022/23
Games: 39
Assists: 1
Honours: Champions League, Premier League, FA Cup
2023/24
Games: 6
Honours: Super Cup
Total
Games: 260
Goals: 6
Assists: 18
Honours (15): Champions League, Premier League (5), FA Cup (2), Carabao Cup (4), Community Shield (2), Super Cup
