Jeremy Doku Signs New Contract with Manchester City
Jeremy Doku has tied his future to Manchester City, and it feels like a statement as much as a signature.
The 24-year-old Belgian, signed from Stade Rennais in 2023, has gone from raw prospect to central pillar of City’s attack in barely three seasons. His acceleration, his one‑on‑one swagger, the chaos he brings to full-backs who dare to square him up – all of it has turned him into one of the Premier League’s most feared wide players and a fixture in a squad that has ruled English football.
This summer, he becomes the latest cornerstone locked in at the Etihad. Phil Foden, Josko Gvardiol, Abdukodir Khusanov – now Doku. The core of City’s next era is signing on.
This club means so much to me
Doku’s decision to stay longer in Manchester is rooted in something deeper than trophies and numbers.
"I have loved my time at City so far, so to have the opportunity to stay for longer is a fantastic feeling," he said. "This club means so much to me – I have developed as both a player and a person. I feel settled here, and I know I am improving every day because of the work the staff here do. It’s hard to explain just how much this club does to help players."
That theme of growth kept coming back. Doku talked like someone who knows he has found the right environment, and is not about to walk away from it.
"I don’t take it for granted and it makes me better," he added. "With Enzo here now I am really excited about the new season. His style of football is the kind we love, so that’s exciting for the players."
The Etihad crowd has clearly left its mark on him as well.
"The City fans are also a huge reason I have signed this new contract. I feel their love and support, and it means the world to me. I want to focus on bringing them the success they deserve."
Centrepiece of Maresca’s plan
The timing of the deal matters. City are stepping into a new chapter under Enzo Maresca, and Doku is right at the heart of it.
Maresca is understood to be keen on building his attacking structure around Doku’s pace, direct running and ability to unpick low blocks on his own. For a coach seeking fluid, aggressive football, there are few better weapons than a winger who can turn a game with a single burst.
The Belgian’s excitement about the Italian’s approach only underlines how closely player and manager seem aligned before a ball has even been kicked in anger.
A rise built on big moments
City’s faith in Doku is not based on potential alone. He has already delivered in volume.
His first season in England was explosive. The defining afternoon came against Bournemouth, when he produced one of the great individual performances of the Premier League era: four assists, five goal involvements, and a slice of history as the youngest player ever to hit those marks in a single league match. By the end of that campaign he had passed 40 appearances, with six goals and 11 assists, driving City towards a fourth consecutive league title.
The following year, 2024-25, tested City more. The team hit bumps, the rhythm stuttered at times. Doku did not. He closed the season with eight goals and nine assists, but the numbers only tell part of the story. His game had filled out – more maturity, more defensive work, more responsibility when the team needed an outlet under pressure.
By 2025-26, he was no longer just a spark. He was a necessity.
In the final season of Pep Guardiola’s reign, Doku became pivotal in a domestic cup double. The FA Cup semi-final against Southampton summed up his evolution: he dragged City back into the tie with the equaliser, then created Nico’s winner. Not just flair on the flank, but decisive contributions in the biggest moments.
“He really does bring a special quality”
Inside the club, there is no doubt about his trajectory.
Manchester City Director of Football Hugo Viana, who has helped shape the squad’s gradual refresh, did not hold back in his assessment.
"Jeremy is a huge talent whose improvement since joining us in 2023 is clear for all to see," Viana said. "He has a special dynamic. He has the right characteristics for what we are looking for in a winger. He really does bring a special quality to our team."
Viana’s praise went beyond the stepovers and sprints.
"Jeremy is also a fantastic person. He is someone loved across the club. His attitude is first class, and he wants to improve every single day. He deserves this new deal, and I know he will continue his improvement in the coming months and years."
Those words echo the impression from the dressing room: a player who arrived as a livewire talent and has grown into a trusted figure, both on the pitch and in the group.
City have tied down a winger in his prime years, a player already proven on the biggest domestic stage and still sharpening his edges. Under a new manager, in a slightly reshaped side, Doku now moves from rising star to standard-bearer.
The question for the rest of the league is simple: if this is what he looks like now, what happens when he hits his ceiling?
