Nico O’Reilly Set for New Chapter at Manchester City with Fresh Shirt Number and Contract

Manchester City will soon hand Nico O’Reilly a new contract and shirt number after rejecting multiple bids for the England international. The club has agreed to extend his future, securing his contract until June 2028, which marks an important step for the young midfielder and the team’s plans.

WHAT HAPPENED?

The 20-year-old midfielder, whose previous contract was due to expire in 2026, has a verbal agreement with Manchester City to extend his contract amid strong interest from the top teams in England and Germany. Bayer Leverkusen made two bids for the player but had to back down as City were unwilling to let him leave. But after recent discussions with manager Pep Guardiola, O’Reilly is convinced that his future is at the Etihad. The midfielder will wear the number 33 jersey at the club in the 2025/26 campaign.

WHY THIS MATTERS FOR CITY AND O’REILLY

With regular first-team action still not guaranteed, O’Reilly is actively exploring his options, but the club is determined to keep him on board to nurture his skills further. Reports indicate that O’Reilly is set to play a bigger role in Manchester City’s first team this season, which reflects his rapid rise, having been called up to the England national team after just five senior appearances for his club. Additionally, with injuries to key midfielders, he could play an important role for Guardiola’s side in the coming days, particularly in domestic cup games.

WHAT NEXT FOR O’REILLY?

The midfielder is set to return to the matchday squad when Manchester City host Wolves in their first Premier League game of 2025-2026. O’Reilly could feature in City’s starting lineup as it struggles with injuries in the past few seasons. This situation highlights the urgency for more regular first-team football, something O’Reilly is seeking ahead of the 2025/26 season.