One of the most naturally gifted English players to have emerged in many years, the 22-year-old has produced countless moments to savour over the past few years.
Along the way, the England international has cemented his place as one of the key components of Guardiola’s remarkable and multi-talented City squad.
In the wake of his new contract, which will take Foden through to the summer of 2027, we have pinpointed ten of his standout City performances.
With so many memorable and outstanding displays to choose from, it was no easy task – but we’ve selected these 10 of Foden’s most memorable games at City so far – with plenty more to come in the wake of his new deal!
United 2-0 City: Pre-season friendly - Houston July 2017
Having been afforded the opportunity to be part of City’s tour party to the United States for our 2017 summer, Foden was then entrusted with a starting role in our International Champions Cup clash with Manchester United in front of 60,000 fans in Houston, Texas.
It was an opportunity the teenager grabbed with both hands.
City may have been edged out by United – but the big talking point for everyone was a quite magnificent all-round display from Foden who demonstrated both his quality and strength of character even at such a tender age.
His impact that day was certainly not lost on manager Pep Guardiola.
“I don’t have words,” Guardiola said when describing Foden’s performance. “I would like to have the right words to describe what I saw.
“You are lucky guys, believe me, you are the guys who saw his first game in the first team at Manchester City.
“I’ve not seen something like I saw today for a long time. His performance was another level.
He’s a City fan and loves the club. He’s a gift for us.”
City 1-0 Feyenoord - November 2017 (first team debut)
Foden had actually been named on the City bench for a Champions League tie with Celtic in December 2016, but had to bide his time until the following November before being afforded his official senior bow.
It was worth the wait however.
Summoned from the bench to replace Yaya Toure on 76 minutes, the 17-year-old immediately made himself at home out on the Etihad pitch with his precision passing, fluid movement and making an instant impact.
And a memorable City debut was capped when Raheem Sterling secured the winner just two minutes from time to set the seal on a night Foden will never forget.
“It meant everything,” Foden admitted afterwards. “I’ve waited so long for this opportunity, and it meant everything to me.
“It was an amazing experience. It’s brilliant to be around players like David Silva and Kevin De Bruyne and to learn every day from them. It’s an honour to be involved with the squad.”
“Phil knows that the club is there to support him but it depends on him,” added City boss Guardiola.
“He has to come and work every day and he knows we trust a lot with him and we are going to try.”
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Oxford 0-3 City Carabao Cup - October 2018 first senior goal
Having capped a memorable first senior season by claiming both a Premier League and Carabao Cup winners’ medal, Foden then chalked up another notable landmark at the Manor Ground, Oxford in October 2018 by scoring his maiden senior City goal.
Foden had already laid on a sublime assist as Riyad Mahrez despatched City’s second goal after Gabriel Jesus had fired us into a first half lead.
And he then rounded off a dominant Carabao Cup third round victory by finding the target in injury time.
“I’ve dreamed about this moment since being a kid, scoring my first goal for the Club I’ve supported since I was really young,” Foden admitted afterwards.
“Today it came true and I’m really happy and hopefully I can get more.
I was happy to get the goal but most importantly to get the win and to help the team.”
City 1-0 Spurs - April 2019 (first PL goal)
Foden’s propensity for delivering in the biggest of matches was amply demonstrated on a baking hot April afternoon as he headed home his first Premier League goal for the Club.
A second successive home game against Spurs inside three days was a key match in terms of City’s quest to retain the Premier League title.
But it was also a testing encounter – both physically and mentally – as we locked horns again with the Londoners less than 72 hours after we had suffered a heart-breaking Champions League quarter-final loss to Mauricio Pochettino’s side.
It was another tense, testing assignment – but Foden’s fifth minute diving header was enough to clinch both a precious three points and send City back to the top of the table.
“I was happy to help the team and get the goal,” Foden admitted afterwards.
“(It’s my) first Premier League goal so it will live with me forever.
“We knew what they were about because we have played them twice already. It’s hard and we looked a bit leggy but we got the job done.”
City 2-1 Aston Villa Carabao Cup final - March 2020 (MoM display)
City’s third successive Carabao Cup final triumph was underpinned by a majestic Wembley display from Foden as Guardiola’s side edged past a determined Aston Villa.
Sergio Aguero and Rodri may have contributed the goals, but City’s latest League Cup success was orchestrated by a sublime Foden performance.
Deployed on the right side of City’s midfield, he lit up the national stadium with his vision, technique and willingness to fight for the team again amply illustrated.
Foden was named the official man of the match, which secured him the Alan Hardaker Trophy and Phil admitted it had proved an occasion to remember.
“It doesn’t get much better than that to be honest,” Foden said afterwards. “I just couldn’t wait to play on the special occasion and I’m over the moon to help the team and get the result.
“It’s unbelievable and we want to keep going and win it again. I’ve always dreamed of playing on this stage and it didn’t go too bad, which I’m really happy about.
“The feeling of winning a trophy never goes away.”
Liverpool 1-4 City - February 2021
Traditionally a trip to Anfield had more often than not being an unhappy experience for City.
Leading up to our trip there in February 2021, our record at Liverpool had been one of limited success with the Club’s previous victory at Anfield having come back in 2003.
But on a biting cold February afternoon, a rampant City more than made up for lost time – with Foden the heartbeat of what was a supreme demonstration of all that is good about Pep’s side.
Deployed as a false nine, Foden was simply unstoppable and he capped a mesmeric performance by rounding off a win for the ages by firing home a thunderous fourth goal after a brace from Ilkay Gundogan and a Raheem Sterling effort.
“We showed the courage to play our football and, in the end, it paid off,” Foden declared. “We definitely forced the errors, and that’s something we’ve been working on in training.
“I struck it perfect (for my goal) and I was just pleased to see it go in.
“This gives us every chance of winning the league, but the job isn’t done. We just need to keep winning games.”
City 2-1 Borussia Dortmund - March 2021
A hard-fought, cagey Champions League quarter-final first leg looked like ending all square at the Etihad only for Foden to produce a moment of injury time magic.
City’s hopes of taking a quarter-final first leg lead out to Germany appeared in the balance when Marco Reus brought the Bundesliga side level six minutes from time with a cool finish from Erling Haaland‘s pass, cancelling out Kevin De Bruyne’s 19th minute opener.
City – and Foden – though demonstrated he strength of character that dovetails alongside our technical quality by summoning up a dramatic 90th minute winner.
De Bruyne, who had given City the lead with a crisp finish after 19 minutes, played his part once more in the final minute of normal time when his fine cross was touched back by Ilkay Gundogan for Foden to stroke a finish past Marwin Hitz to secure a memorable win.
“It’s a relief we had a lot of chances before that but in the end I was just happy to score and help the team at a crucial time for us,” Foden reflected.
“We are always confident and try to stay focused for the full 90 minutes.”
Dortmund 1-2 City - April 2021
They say lightning never strikes twice but City and Foden delivered a repeat of our first leg Dortmund dramatics as his 75th minute winner propelled the Club to only our second Champions League semi-final.
A 17th minute goal from Jude Bellingham had given the Bundesliga side an early advantage and drawn the tie level on aggregate.
City however responded with a period of sustained pressure that eventually saw Riyad Mahrez draw us level from the penalty spot on 55 minutes.
And, fittingly after another eye-catching individual display, the final word went to Foden who despatched a 75th minute fierce drive that went in off the post to round off a brilliant comeback win.
The goal sparked joyous scenes of celebration amongst the City players and staff and sealed a 4-2 aggregate win, setting up a mouth-watering semi-final meeting with Paris Saint-Germain
“You have the feeling that he is a guy who never hides,” Guardiola said about Foden, who ran to celebrate his goal with the head coach.
“He scored two important goals, the second goal in the Etihad and today helped us to be in the semi-final.
“We knew it from the beginning. He grew up. In the quarter-final of the Champions League, he was the important players to go through to play against PSG.”
Brighton 1-4 City - October 2021
A first Premier League brace from Foden provided the inspiration for a dominant victory away at the AMEX Stadium.
Again, demonstrating his tactical flexibility by being deployed as a forward figurehead against the Seagulls, Foden’s display was just the latest illustration of how he married his natural supreme technical ability alongside his hunger and desire.
His two goals bookended a wonderful, dynamic all-round display.
Not for the first time it drew more admiring reaction from his manager – with Guardiola also asserting that there was still even more potential to be unlocked from the England international.
“In the final third he can play up front, has the quality to move and be aggressive one on one and arrive in the box. He can play as a false nine, a winger, wide right or wide left,” said the City boss.
“He is a guy who is a midfield player with a big sense of the goal. He is still young and still has a margin to improve.”
City 6-3 United - October 2022
A first Premier League hat-trick – on a memorable derby afternoon with United hit for six was yet another landmark occasion in Foden’s fabulous career arc.
The Stockport illustrated once again just what the fixture means to him and City by producing a dazzling, dynamic display as he – and Erling Haaland - bagged a hat-trick apiece.
The treble also brought up the 50-goal career tally for Foden and what an occasion to reach that landmark as he became the youngest player to achieve that feat under Guardiola at 22 years old and 127 days, surpassing Lionel Messi!
“It’s a dream come true, playing in the Derby being a City fan.
“Me and Erling [Haaland] are finding the connection now. It’s a pleasure.
“I feel like we clicked. Our determination from kick off was right at it and we finished our chances.”
