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Rico Lewis has signed a new contract at Manchester City after a summer in which his future became a topic of debate at the Etihad.
Rico Lewis has signed a new contract at Manchester City that will keep him at the club for another five years, with the option of an extra season.
The 20-year-old academy graduate is just three appearances short of a century for his boyhood club and is now committed to the Etihad for the foreseeable future, after a summer in which his future briefly came under discussion.
Lewis was the subject of interest from Nottingham Forest on the eve of the Premier League's opening day, with City Ground chiefs briefly confident of concluding a deal.
But Lewis, who has been at City since he was eight, reaffirmed his desire to stay after starring in the 4-0 win at Wolves and has now been rewarded with a new deal.
“Manchester City mean everything to me so to have been given the opportunity to sign this new contract is such a special moment both for me personally and my family," said Lewis.
"I am still improving and developing as a player, and I know that the opportunity to carry on working with Pep, his coaching team and our amazing squad will only help me to keep getting better.
"I have spent so much of my life at this club. City means everything to me, so to be able to stay longer makes me incredibly happy. It’s an absolute honour and privilege to represent the club every single day and to play in front of our fantastic fans who have always been so supportive of me."
Lewis started the first two games of this season at right-back before dropping to the bench at Brighton before the international break.
The majority of his appearances for the Blues have come at right-back, but he is a versatile player and said he would prefer to play in midfield if given the option.
“For me, I like playing in midfield. I think it’s easier than changing from full-back to midfield, or midfield to full-back in terms of running," he said.
"I like playing in midfield, I like being part of the game more often but I’m happy to play wherever as long as I can help and contribute to the team.”
Lewis could bring up a century of games in a City shirt at Arsenal next Sunday and admits that will be a surreal moment.
“Even before that when you’re coming through the academy you don’t see it as a possibility to achieve and get through into the first team," he said.
"Especially when I was coming through, the level was so high. They were always winning, you’d look at the players in the squad and you’d think it’s impossible to even think about getting to that level. To be here today at almost 100 games, it’s an amazing achievement for myself and it’s a credit to my family.”
City director of football Hugo Viana said: "Rico embodies everything we aspire to be at Manchester City, and we are delighted he has signed his new contract.
“He is hugely talented and already has acquired a wealth of experience. Despite only being 20, he is hungry to keep learning and improving. His attitude is first class and exactly what we look for in a young player.
"Having come through our academy, Rico carries with him all the values that underpin Manchester City and he cares deeply about the club.
"And we have no doubt at all he will play a very big part in our endeavour to help bring more success to the club going forward.”
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