Harry Maguire is close to agreeing a new deal at Manchester United, with ESPN reporting that negotiations between the club and the centre-back’s representatives are at an advanced stage after a season that has significantly rehabilitated his standing.
Maguire’s current contract expires this summer, and for most of this season his departure seemed a near-certainty — the defender had become a symbol of the club’s decline under multiple managers, his form brittle and his confidence visibly shaken after years of criticism.
The Carrick effect has been transformative. The decision to revert to a back four immediately restored Maguire’s positional authority, removing the structural confusion that had undermined him in the three-centre-back system Amorim had tried to implement. His performances since January have been among the best of his time at the club.
Maguire himself attributed the change to the tactical shift rather than any wholesale transformation in his abilities. “Carrick’s decision to revert to a back four has rescued my England career,” he said earlier this month. “Nothing against Ruben Amorim: he has loads of great ideas, but they did not work at United.”
A new contract — reported to be a one-year extension with an option for a further year — would keep Maguire at Old Trafford through to 2028 if both options are exercised, providing continuity as United rebuild their defensive options in the summer window.
The terms being discussed reflect his reduced market position compared to the peak of his career, but also United’s recognition that his leadership and aerial ability remain assets the squad genuinely needs, particularly as they attempt to qualify for Champions League football next season.
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