Manchester United are on the verge of formally announcing a new long-term deal for Kobbie Mainoo, with the two parties understood to have reached a verbal agreement on a five-year extension that would keep the midfielder at Old Trafford until 2031. The financial terms represent a significant step up, lifting Mainoo to around £150,000 per week compared to the approximately £20,000-a-week he currently earns, making him one of the club’s top earners.
The journey to this point has been anything but straightforward. Under previous manager Ruben Amorim, Mainoo failed to make a single Premier League start, was moved to the periphery of the squad, and at one stage reportedly considered a loan move to Napoli as a way of preserving his England prospects ahead of the World Cup in North America this summer.
The arrival of interim manager Michael Carrick changed everything almost immediately. Carrick moved Bruno Fernandes back to his preferred number 10 role and restored Mainoo to a double pivot alongside Casemiro, a tactical tweak that has transformed United’s form dramatically. In the eleven Premier League games Mainoo has started under Carrick, United have won eight and drawn twice, the best run of form in the division across that stretch.
Carrick himself is reported to have spoken to club bosses about Mainoo’s long-term value, using his own experience as a midfield operator to make the case for keeping the 21-year-old central to the project. The manager’s endorsement carried weight with the INEOS leadership group overseeing the club’s rebuilding effort, who view Mainoo as one of the few non-negotiable assets on the current roster.
There is also a broader strategic dimension to this. Casemiro is confirmed to be leaving at the end of the season, and the future of Manuel Ugarte remains uncertain given his performances this term. That leaves Mainoo as the only out-and-out central midfielder with a guaranteed future at Old Trafford heading into what promises to be an extremely active summer window.
The timing matters for international reasons too. Mainoo has returned to Thomas Tuchel’s England squad following his strong club form and is widely expected to be part of the squad travelling to the World Cup. Several months ago, that prospect looked remote, with Mainoo himself reportedly worried his international career would be derailed by Amorim’s reluctance to play him.
An official announcement on the contract is not expected imminently, but reports suggest it will be confirmed before the end of the current Premier League campaign. For United supporters, the development represents one of the few clear positives in what has been a difficult season in many respects, offering a sense of continuity and promise heading into a summer of significant reconstruction.
The case for Mainoo is not simply about ability. His academy background, his composure in high-pressure situations, and his growing authority within the dressing room all point to a player who can anchor United’s midfield through their next chapter, rather than simply serve as a useful squad member.
