ContinueInfluential Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany has signed a new six-year contract at the Premier League champions.
The Belgian international, now widely regarded as one of the best central defenders in Europe, lifted the FA Cup in 2011 and last season’s Premier League title for Manchester City, their first league title in 44 years.
The 26-year-old was signed from German outfit HSV in 2008 by Mark Hughes, shortly before Sheikh Mansour completed his take over of the club, and has been an integral part of the Manchester City transformation. Kompany cannot fathom a future anywhere else but at the Etihad Staidium, after being awarded the longest contract in the club’s history.
"For me, if you are good somewhere then there is no reason to look elsewhere," Kompany told the club's website.
"Man City is not just a project of the owners or the people employed by the club - it is also my project.
"I have been here since the beginning and I have seen everything at the club change inside and out," he added. "I have the feeling that I have contributed to it too. It is good to know that I can be at City for another six years. It is a compliment that the club feels so highly of me."
Kompany, who began his career at Belgian club Anderlecht before moving to Germany, cost the Manchester club a paltry £6 million in 2008, a relative bargain and perhaps the club’s most exquisite piece of business to date.
Kompany lifted the Premier League trophy to conclude an unforgettable season for the Belgian and the club. The 26-year-old scored City’s winner in their 1-0 victory over Manchester United towards the conclusion of last season, which pivotally put City ahead of the Red Devils on goal difference, with two games remaining.
"This Man City project was probably one of the most difficult projects in Europe to be part of and so far we have all done a good job, even though a lot of people said it [success] wasn't going to happen so quickly,” Kompany continued.
"I like the kind of characters that we have in our team. I like the challenges we have ahead of us. Now is the time to build the culture of winning. We are in the right time. We are in the right moment."
