Manchester City have reported that the 22-year-old Academy graduate and England U-21 Captain Nedum Onuoha has penned a new five-year contract to remain at Eastlands.
Manager Mark Hughes was quick to dismiss recent interest in Onuoha by stating that he was integral to the future of Manchester City. The new five-year deal will certainly go some way to silence the constant media speculation over the level-headed defenders future.
Hughes and ADUG are fully committed to City’s youth policy and bringing players from the academy through into the first team. The City boss sees Nedum as a prime example of the success this policy has had at the club.
‘Nedum is a very important part of my future plans for the team, and I am very pleased he has decided to extend his contract with us,’ stated Hughes.
‘Despite his tender years he has already matured into a very good defender who has made a significant impact on the first team,’
‘Nedum has huge potential for the future and is another shining example of the kind of quality our academy can produce for Manchester City football club.’
Onuoha, who recently attained three ‘A’ grades in his A-levels said of his new long-term contract on City’s official website: ‘I am really, really happy, this is a great place for any young player to be. Hopefully it will be the start of another good five years for me and for the club.
The Nigerian born, Manchester raised City supporter has high hopes going into next season.
‘This is a season that we will be looking right towards the top of the table. Who knows how far the club can go. If you look back five years who would have expected the club to be in the position it is in now. We feel anything is possible.
‘There is a brilliant mix here in terms of the squad. There are a lot of big signings that have been made but there are also plenty of lads who have come through the Academy and I think that is an important thing.
‘We all have a lot more experience now and I think we are the type of players teams need to be successful. If you look at the recent history of the clubs that have won trophies they have all had a home grown element.’
With the expected arrival of Kolo Toure from Arsenal and a host of other top names linked to Manchester’s only team, Onuoha knows he has his work cut out if he wants to remain on the team sheet.
‘I was pleased by the way I played towards the end of last season but at the same time I don`t think that level of form will be good enough to get me into the side this time around.’
‘Unless you are continuously improving you shouldn`t expect to be in the team. I want to improve on last season and I am raring to go.’
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