Harry Maguire recently signed a contract extension that will keep him at Manchester United until June 2027, with an option for a further year.
The centre-back’s previous deal was set to expire at the end of the current season, which would make him a free agent in two months.
Instead of letting him walk, the club decided to give him another year at Old Trafford – which could eventually become two years. Multiple reports have even indicated that he took a pay cut to remain a Red Devil.
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How can Harry Maguire’s extension help Manchester United?
Short-term impact
At 33, Maguire is still a solid centre-back. He has had his fair share of injury in recent seasons, but has started each Man Utd’s 10 games since Michael Carrick took over.
His return to the lineup was one of many changes the former midfielder implemented — and one that has worked wonders.
The England international has helped Man Utd become a much more solid side in this span. Their averages of goals, big chances and shots conceded have all gone down under Carrick’s four-at-the-back system that has Maguire at the heart of its defence.
| Man Utd stats (per game) | Under Carrick | Before Carrick |
|---|---|---|
| Goals conceded | 1.1 | 1.6 |
| Big chances conceded | 1.4 | 2.3 |
| Shots faced | 10.7 | 11.2 |
| Expected goals against | 1.2 | 1.3 |
| Touches in the box allowed | 22.1 | 23.5 |
While the Red Devils do have other good centre-back options, many of them are usually unavailable. Matthijs De Ligt hasn’t played since November and Lisandro Martinez came back from a 10-month absence with an ACL tear only to injure his calf and miss a further two months of action.
Maguire himself is still a force to be reckoned with in the air. He outright leads the Premier League in aerial duel success among players to have contested 10+ such duels.
Since Carrick took over, Man Utd average the third-fewest clearances per game in the Premier League (22.9). Despite this, among players, Maguire still ranks 12th in such actions (53).
His ability to sweep everything in behind is a very valuable asset for the Red Devils. He also chips in going forward, having picked up two goals and one assist in 20 games this season, which has been an inury-riddled one. Maguire scored four goals in each of his previous two seasons at the club. The Englishman also ranks eighth among centre-backs in set-piece shots per 90 minutes (0.75).
The recent form even got him back into the England squad after an 18-month absence. He had never featured in Thomas Tuchel’s callups before. The last one had been in September 2024, when Lee Carsley held the reins.
He has played well for his country over the years. It’s actually easy to picture him as a second-half substitute and getting a set-piece equaliser on a header late on in the World Cup.
Long-term impact
Maguire also reportedly turned down a big money move to MLS in order to stay earning less. It appears to be his desire to end his career at Old Trafford – and there is a place for him as he gets older.
For now, he still has plenty to offer on the pitch. Of course, Carrick made it a priority to introduce him back into the lineup, but if he doesn’t get the full-time job next season, Maguire will have to prove himself to the new boss.
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Regardless, players don’t start declining physically and technically in their 30s like they used to before. Over the last few years, in fact, it looks like they even improve with more mileage.
And if Man Utd end up signing another central defender, there will be a period of adaptation. Maguire, as a solid defender with years of experience and even captaincy still has a big role to play. He has been at the club for nearly seven years and has seen it all during his time there.
There looks to be a path for him to get his wish and retire a Red Devil. A new 12-month contract on smaller wages with an option for a further year is a good solution to keep things relatively the same short-term while also preparing for the future without him.