Josko Gvardiol missed most of the second part of last season with injury – but now he’s back and raring to go…

When Josko Gvardiol left the pitch after suffering a leg injury against Chelsea last January, initial hopes were that he’d taken a nasty knock and nothing more.

When the news filtered through he’d broken his shinbone, there was a mix of sadness and frustration as our most versatile defender faced a lengthy layoff.

Since arriving in 2023, Gvardiol has been one of European football’s most coveted players, able to play centre-back, left-back or as an inverted midfielder with an eye for goal.

Pep Guardiola once joked Josko was ‘our new left winger’ after he scored a couple of goals away to Fulham in 2024 and there is no doubt the talented Croatian could do a more than decent job there if required.

So his absence was a real set-back to our Premier League title challenge – one that ultimately fell just short – and one that many believe we might have won had we had a fully fit Gvardiol - as well as a peak Rodri who was working his way back to optimum levels.

Still only 24, the amiable and hugely likeable defender has now penned a five-year contract extension until 2031, which would take his stay up to eight years with City.

It’s another welcome commitment from a top player to Manchester City as Enzo Maresca begins his managerial tenure with the Club.

Josko would appear flittingly towards the end of last season and then jetted out to North America for the World Cup where Croatia’s stay was surprisingly short.

But now it’s full steam ahead as the Blues prepare to go again in 2026/27.

Reflecting on his injury, Josko recalled: “At the beginning, I didn’t realise what happened – it was just a strange situation – and within a week I was in hospital undergoing surgery.

"Of course, as a footballer, you want to be fit, on the pitch and able to play, but in truth I found the whole process fairly easy to deal with and for me, I found it passed really quickly."

“Afterwards, to start with, I thought it would be very difficult, but once I accepted I was out for a long time, I actually dealt with it very well.

“I was on crutches to begin with so I was limited in what I could do, and it was all about the rehab and recovery I needed to do.

“But I had one week when I had begun to progress well where I went back to Croatia to see my family and friends for a week which was obviously a lift, but my focus was always to get back to full fitness as quickly as possible.

“Of course, as a footballer, you want to be fit, on the pitch and able to play, but in truth I found the whole process fairly easy to deal with and for me, I found it passed really quickly – OK, that was four or five months out and I still think it will be a couple of months before I am back to my best -  but I am over the worst part and back on the grass again, playing. That’s all that really matters.

“Being here, being surrounded by all these great names, players and characters, seeing them every day, training and pushing harder and harder, we achieved a lot of things together.

“My only wish is that we continue that way. I am really looking forward to being here, staying here and playing here for many, many years. It’s been three years and we have achieved a lot of things here. Also the new manager is here, so we are keen to kick on.

“This is the right club for me and my family as well. I have everything I need here, and I’ve said it many times, I feel very much at home in Manchester, and I’ve also discovered the Lake District, which I absolutely love. It’s beautiful and I love it.”

Of course, Guardiola’s departure and Maresca’s arrival means there will be changes – or at least tweaks – in style of play and personnel both on and off the pitch.

"This is the right club for me and my family as well. I have everything I need here, and I’ve said it many times"

And while Josko admits that there will be a period of adjustment, he believes it can be fairly seamless given the squad our new boss has inherited.

“Now I realise Pep has gone, I know it won’t be easy, because I think he had the perfect mix because when we had to work hard, we knew what we had to do, but when it was time to laugh and have fun, we knew that too,” said Josko.

“He was a genius. If there was something wrong in the first-half, he would change things at half-time and within five minutes, the changes would work.

“Hopefully he will come back and watch some of our games and we can have a coffee, but he deserved the success we had more than anyone and I wish him all the very best in the future.”

And as for new boss Maresca, he added: “Of course it’s important to understand each other – he has to understand us as players, and we have to understand what he wants from us. and nothing more

“I’m really looking forward to this new challenge because it’s going to be something different and it will take time to adjust and it won’t be easy.

“But I think the quality of the players we have in our  group is unbelievable and I think that actually, it won’t be that hard to move forward and adapt to everything and understand what is required of us, so I’m really looking forward to what lies ahead.

“I think it will be quite similar to how we’ve been playing the last three years. I remember when [Enzo} was at Chelsea, it was difficult to play against them especially away. We struggled.  

“He’s here and I think we can achieve some great things together. As for me, I think this year I will be trying to push as much as possible.”

Feature: David Clayton

City and Chelsea have had some memorable battles in recent seasons. Niamh Charles is set to become one of the few players to experience it from both sides of the coin in 2026/27. 

The full-back became the Blues’ second summer signing in early July, making the switch from London to Manchester after six stellar years at Stamford Bridge. 

After picking up 17 major honours at club and international level already in her career, it’s safe to say her new team-mates, and our supporters, will be pleased to see her in the sky blue of City now rather than the royal blue of Chelsea. 

But while Charles is set to embark on a new chapter in her footballing journey, she’s certainly done her homework on her new squad. 

And it’s clear that she’s held a quiet admiration for City even if, as a serial winner, she never let it affect her performances against us over the years. 

“They’ve been building for a while, but it’s maybe clicked this year a little bit more,” Charles said of City’s 2025/26 exploits on her signing day. 

“From the outside, I’ve noticed the group have been together, the core group, for a while and that makes a difference. 

“You could tell probably they’ve had the experience of being in the bigger games or pushing us all the way with the title. 

“This year they found a way in games to win when maybe they hadn’t before. 

“That is such a massive value to have in a team. Hopefully, we can build on that going into next year and go even better.” 

A key member of that experienced core group that Charles references is Lauren Hemp. 

Our longest serving player and set become only the fourth player in our professional history to reach 200 appearances for the Club, the fact the winger only turns 26 this August exemplifies her incredible longevity in the game. 

A tenacious, hardworking, team-focused player capable of lighting up a game of football at the blink of an eye, Hemp embodies everything positive about our storied past and our exciting future in equal measure. 

She’s also close friends with Charles and joined the defender for some photos on her signing day despite the pair both going on holiday the following day! 

The full-back admits hearing Hemp and her City team-mates’ ringing endorsements of the Club during international breaks certainly helped her ultimately make the decision to move to the Joie Stadium. 

But while it’s certainly a key factor, it’s clear that our success in 2025/26 wasn’t the only factor behind Charles’ desire to join. 

“I’ve got a few good friends here from past times and internationals. I’ve spoken to them about it and they feel they’re improving every day as players in training and every game and that is something I want to do," she said.

“They can see the project going on here, they’re happy here and they feel looked after on and off the pitch. 

“That is where you get your best football out and that is what I’ve spoken to them about and it’s what I think works for me and what I’ve been looking for. 

“I’m really excited for that, and they really seem to enjoy the group together and that makes the good times even better and bad times a little easier. 

“You can sort of get through and be even better, I think.” 

City ended a ten-year wait for the WSL title in 2025/26, having come agonisingly close to glory on multiple occasions. 

Including the 2017 Spring Series, the Blues finished as runners-up six times between our two league crowns, missing out on the title twice on the final day of the season. 

But that hoodoo was ended in style, with City claiming the title with a game to spare en route to equalling our best-ever WSL points haul. 

Getting to the top is one thing. Staying there is a whole different ball game. 

The signings of Beth Mead and Charles, as well as the retention of Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw, provide a fantastic foundation from which City can build on our Double-winning campaign, but rivals will also be looking to strengthen their own claims for supremacy. 

That taste of success, though, is something Charles believes will be a crucial asset for City heading into 2026/27 based off her previous titles at Chelsea. 

“It’s so exciting and I think the girls have experienced it. Once you win one, you want to win it even more and you want to do it every year, bigger and better,” she added. 

“I’m really excited that the girls have been really successful this year and hopefully [we can] build on that next year. Hopefully become a little winning machine.

“Obviously I’ve experienced that at Chelsea, the consistency year on year. From the outside, I’ve felt elements of that here and that’s something that excites me about this team. 

“It’s that it doesn’t just happen overnight. It’s the consistent things day to day in training at the start of the season that pay off at the end of the season. 

“Having the experience of being in there and not quite doing it, keeping that core group together you learn lessons so you’re more prepared next time.  

“Hopefully this team is in a really good position for the next few years, that they know each other really well and are really connected. And in the big moments they can produce. 

“But I think that comes from all the little things and for a lot of time spent on the training pitch and off the pitch working on things.” 

Words: Sam Cox

In our new series looking at players who left (perhaps) City too early, we go back to the 1960s and a striker that was a highlight of a difficult campaign...

Alex Harley had just one season at Manchester City but while it ended in relegation, the Scottish striker had a huge impact and became something of a cult hero.

There were plenty of famous names in the 1962/63 squad – Bert Trautmann, Alan Oakes, Neil Young, Glyn Pardoe to name just four – but the ages explain the problematic season.

Trautmann, already a legend, turned 39 in the opening months while Pardoe was barely 16 with Oakes and Young only a couple of years older with their great days to come.

Harley, meanwhile, was 26-year-old when he arrived from Third Lanark for just short of £20,000 after topping the Scottish goalscoring charts the previous season with 41 goals.

City had lost the opening game of the season 8-1 at Wolves before drawing at home 2-2 to Liverpool, but that didn’t put him off making the switch to Maine Road.

It didn’t get much better after his arrival with City losing their next three matches although he got his first goal in a 4-2 defeat at Tottenham.

Four days later, Harley got both goals in our first win of the season – a 2-1 victory over Ipswich – but it was clearly going to be a difficult campaign for the Blues as that was followed by a 6-1 home loss to West Ham when Trautmann was sent off for kicking the ball at the referee.

However, the Glaswegian was starting to settle in at his new home – and cemented his place as a favourite the following weekend with a 90^th minute winner at Old Trafford in a 3-2 victory over Manchester United.

City’s form picked up in October and Hartley scored 10 goals in seven games as City remained unbeaten and moved up to mid-table.

That included a hat-trick in a 3-2 over Sheffield Wednesday and five goals in the League Cup before another against Luton Town sent us into the quarter-finals.

However, a 6-0 defeat at relegation rivals Birmingham City suggested there was plenty to work on and two five-game losing streaks plunged the Blues back into relegation trouble.

A 1-0 win over Spurs gave us hope of survival and the penultimate game of the season saw the visit of United who were also in the relegation dogfight.

More than 52,000 were at Maine Road for the clash where a victory would have moved City out of the bottom two and above United.

Harley, of course, fired the Blues ahead in the eighth minute and we looked set for a huge two points. But with six minutes remaining, United were awarded a controversial penalty when Harry Dowd was adjudged to have fouled former City striker Denis Law when the ball was rolling out of play. Albert Quixall scored the equaliser from the spot to rescue a point.

Level on points with Birmingham on the final day, there was to be no miracle as the West Midlands side beat Leicester 3-2 while Harley made his last appearance for City in a 6-1 loss at West Ham.

Finishing the season with 32 goals from 49 games for a struggling side, it was no surprise that First Division clubs wanted to sign the number nine.

Birmingham, who had both knocked us out on their way to winning the League Cup and then taken the final survival spot, made their move and signed him for £42,000 – more than twice the price City paid.

He wasn’t a huge success at St Andrews, scoring nine goals before returning to Scotland with Dundee before playing in Ireland and South Africa.

But for City fans and Alex, it was a case of 'what might have been' - he seemed to have found his spiritual home only for circumstance to play an unwelcome part in his destiny...

Words: Jonathan Smith

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All you need to know: Stanleys are a four-piece indie-pop band hailing from Wigan, Greater Manchester. Formed by a shared love for classic Northern music and jangling melodies, the band consists of Tom (Vocals), Jake (Guitar), Harry (Bass), and Rob (Drums and Vocals).

The Sound:  Drawing heavily from the chiming sounds of 1960s guitar music and the anthemic energy of 1990s Britpop, Stanleys have cultivated a unique and distinctly Northern sound. Their music balances upbeat, sun-soaked melodies with working-class grit, leading The Pentatonic Magazine to label them "the Indie Pop we've been waiting for". BBC Radio Manchester has also praised their "well thought out musicianship," noting they are "well on the way to making something special".

The Journey: Stanleys began making waves in 2018 when their early demos caught the attention of BBC Introducing, earning airplay and glowing reviews on BBC Radio Manchester and BBC Radio Merseyside. They also appeared live in the studio on Revolution Radio's Dave Sweetmore show.

The band is deeply rooted in the thriving Wigan music scene. They have recorded extensively at The Lounge studio in Wigan, working closely with producer Gary Nuttall, who has collaborated with other prominent local acts like The K's and The Lottery Winners. 

After a year away, the band returned with 2026 tracks ‘Pass The Time’ and ’Never Like You’. They are set to head out on tour in October.   

CITY MAG: Tom, what’s your Manchester City story?

TOM: My Manchester City story starts with my dad and uncle, who grew up in Eccles and would watch both City and United games with friends. They both fell in love with City like their dad (going against my Nan, who’s a red) and the rest is history. I was taken to Maine Road before I could properly walk and my love for City started there.

What’s your first vivid memory of City?
My first vivid memory is the derby day in 2008 where Benjani scored the winner and did the famous pointing celebration. For the first time in ages I could go into primary school after a derby with my head held high.

Your first City shirt – if you’ve owned one?
I remember my favourite kit growing up was the 2007-08 purple Thomas Cook kit with [Martin] Petrov on the back.

Your first City hero?
⁠[Pablo] Zabaleta will always be my favourite City player. An absolute warrior.

Do you get to go to games?
I share a season ticket with my brother in the third tier of the South Stand.

Your favourite part of the Etihad?
I love the feeling of walking out from the concourse. After all these years it still gives me goosebumps.

Favourite away ground?
Going to the Bernabéu was pretty special.

All-time favourite City song?
"And when we win the league we’ll sing this song again, ooohhh Pablo Zabaleta.”

Your all-time favourite/proudest moment being a Blue?
The Treble, obviously, but winning our first title up against United comes very close.

Pep’s gone now – how do you think Enzo will do?
It’s the hardest job in the world following Pep but I wish him all the luck in the world!

Your all-time City XI?
Joe Hart, O’Reilly, Kompany, Stones, Zabaleta, D. Silva, B. Silva, Yaya Touré, de Bruyne, Agüero, Haaland

Stanleys’ latest single ‘Never Like You’ is available now.

A new feature for the City Magazine this term, we want to help you get to know our exciting, ambitious Academy players who are working hard on their journey to first-team football.

With Top 5, one player each month will be asked to complete a Top 5 ranking on the spot. From movies to music to stadiums they’ve played in or visited, what will the players pick for their ultimate list?

So, first to take the hot seat for Top 5 is new Under-18s face Alfie Turley. The versatile defender was tasked with building his ultimate Top 5 list of music artists.

Who did he pick?

Olivia Dean 

Future - some of the songs before a game get me going.

Adele - just great music. 

Gunna

Drake - has to be. I love his new album and the song Shabang. 

Interview: Holly Percival