AYMERIC LAPORTE HAS signed a two-year contract extension to keep him at Manchester City until 2025, the Premier League champions have confirmed.
The 24-year-old joined City for £57million in January 2018 – a club-record amount subsequently surpassed when Riyad Mahrez arrived from Leicester City during the close season.
Although he is still yet to win full international honours with France, Laporte has established himself as mainstay of Pep Guardiola’s defence this season, appearing 36 times across all competitions and in every Premier League match.
“I could not be happier to commit my long-term future to Manchester City,” Laporte said.
“Since the day I arrived here, I have been made to feel welcome by Pep and all the players.
This club offers me everything I need to improve my game. I’ve already made great strides and I want to continue getting better and better. Obviously, I want to win silverware and I feel City is the best place to fulfil all my ambitions.”
Along with becoming recognised as one of the Premier League’s leading defenders, Laporte has also developed a useful knack of popping up with important goals.
His four efforts this season, all headers, have come away from home in draws at Wolves and Lyon and victories over Shakhtar Donetsk and Everton.
City’s director of football Txiki Begiristain added: “Aymeric is a huge talent and the fact he has committed his best years to us is something to celebrate.
We knew before we brought him here that he had outstanding potential but his improvement over the past 12 months has been exceptional.
“We want to construct a young, vibrant side, and Aymeric fits perfectly into our plans. His style of play suits us and his attitude since the day he arrived has been first class.
“He can be as good as he wants to be, and Manchester City will be a better side with him in it over the coming seasons.”
City will attempt to retain the EFL Cup against Chelsea at Wembley on Sunday, with Laporte chasing his third major honour in English football.
Murray Kinsella, Andy Dunne and Gavan Casey look ahead to Ireland’s Six Nations meeting with Italy and discuss the week’s biggest stories in the latest episode of The42 Rugby Weekly.
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Carty at 15 is a big surprise, no doubt he has the footballing brain especially in attack to go well there, positionally on D will be interesting. Not really surprised seeing 7 changes, with the 6 day turnaround coupled with the injury list, keeping as many players as fresh as possible makes sense. Long season ahead and getting into the champions cup again next year is their main priority. 23 still strong enough to get the win tho no doubt. Btw great to see muarry on the bench, he could have a very bright future.
If ever there was an incentive for young player to move to Connacht it’s Conor Fitz. He is holding on to Connacht 10 jersey on merit, and that means he has to at least be in the discussion of extended Ireland squads. Especially given the injuries and form elsewhere.
A hint of rotation with the visit of Munster to the Sportsground next weekend too I feel. Roux rested and the first choice front row not starting this weekend.
With the jizz fest when he’s in form it will show us how good a player Jack is fighting his way back into form.