New Delhi: Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim has confirmed that the club have triggered the one-year-extension present in defender Harry Maguire’s contract. The Englishman will now be with the club at least till the end of the 2025/26 season. Maguire, who joined the Red Devils in 2019, was in the final six months of his current deal before the extension was triggered and was theoretically free to discuss a potential move for next season.
Clubs like Napoli and Galatasaray were circling around the former Manchester United captain in order to sign him for a free but will now have to wait at least another year for a similar opportunity. The 31-year-old has made 222 appearances for the club since joining from Leicester City and has scored 12 goals in that time. His time at Old Trafford has yielded him two trophies so far, the Carabao Cup in the 2022/23 season and the FA Cup last season.
Man Utd will trigger Harry Maguire’s one-year contract extension until 2026 ✍#BBCFootball pic.twitter.com/W9sh7pY7xI
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) January 3, 2025
At one point, it seemed like the defender would leave the club at the end of this season with him seemingly having out of favour with former Manchester United boss Erik Ten Hag but things changed under current head coach Amorim. Maguire has made seven appearances so far since Amorim has taken over and has even worn the armband in the absence of club captain Bruno Fernandes. Speaking ahead of United’s trip to Anfield this Sunday, Amorim has also confirmed that Amad Diallo is nearing a contract extension. He said, “Amad is near, Harry Maguire we are going to trigger our option.”
Starving for leaders on the pitch
Ruben Amorim with an honest reflection of Harry Maguire as his contract extension is triggered 🔒 pic.twitter.com/gs5PycgwtD
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) January 3, 2025
Citing it as one of the main reasons for the extension, Ruben Amorim said that he spoke to Maguire informing him that the team needs him a lot. He called for the defender to improve as a leader on the pitch as the club lacks leaders on the field. He acknowledged that Maguire is a leader but needs to improve in that aspect as the team is currently starving for leaders on the pitch. Amorim said, “He is a leader, he has to improve that part, he has to improve his game, so we are happy to continue.”
Maguire has been Manchester United captain in the past before he was stripped off captaincy in favour of Bruno Fernandes by former manager Erik Ten Hag. Under Amorim, he suits well in Amorim’s back three system, having played a lot in a similar set-up for England under Sir Gareth Southgate. Manchester United have a young squad, particularly when it comes to the club’s defenders with Victor Lindelof and Johnny Evans being the only ones that are above the age of 30 but they don’t really feature on the pitch as much.
Former Manchester United captain Harry Maguire is set to stay at the club for another year after the club have triggered the one-year contract extension clause that was present in his contract. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
