Manchester City have secured the long-term future of one of their most exciting young players, with Aoba Fujino signing a new deal until 2030.

The Japan international joined City from Tokyo Verdy Beleza in 2024 and has quickly established herself as an important part of Andree Jeglertz's squad.

Now, after two seasons in Manchester, Fujino has committed the next chapter of her career to the club.

And considering what she achieved last season, it is easy to see why City were keen to make sure she stayed.

Aoba Fujino’s Role in Manchester City’s Historic Double

Fujino played an important role as Manchester City enjoyed their most successful season in years.

City won the Barclays Women's Super League and Women's FA Cup in 2025/26, completing a historic domestic double.

Fujino finished the campaign with seven goals and three assists across all competitions, while her biggest moment came at Wembley.

Introduced from the bench in the Women's FA Cup final against Brighton, she scored City's third goal in a 4-0 victory before Vivianne Miedema completed the scoring.

It was a fitting moment for a player who had increasingly become one of City's most dangerous attacking options.

Fujino's goal also demonstrated exactly what makes her such an exciting prospect.

Receiving the ball inside the area, she shifted onto her left foot before firing into the top corner to help City put the final beyond doubt.

Her overall numbers only tell part of the story.

Manchester City noted that Fujino made 22 appearances during the campaign and recorded 10 goal involvements, while her ability to win possession high up the pitch also stood out.

She averaged 1.61 possessions won in the final third per 90 minutes in the Barclays Women's Super League, the best figure among players to record more than 1,000 minutes.

That combination of attacking quality and defensive work makes her particularly valuable to Jeglertz.

Aoba Fujino: “I’m Capable of More”

Perhaps the most exciting part of Fujino's new contract is that she does not believe she has reached her ceiling.

Speaking after signing the extension, the 22-year-old admitted that there is still plenty she wants to develop.

“Two years in, I know I’m capable of more than I’ve shown.”

That should be an exciting prospect for City.

Fujino arrived in England already regarded as one of Japan's most promising attacking players. Her breakthrough had come at the 2023 Women's World Cup, where she became Japan's youngest-ever goalscorer at the tournament.

Since arriving at City, however, she has had to adapt to a different level of competition and the demands of playing for a team expected to challenge for trophies every season.

The progress is already visible.

Her first campaign was about settling in. Her second saw her become more consistent and contribute to silverware.

The next step is becoming one of the players City rely on when the biggest games arrive.

Why Manchester City Wanted to Keep Aoba Fujino

For City, extending Fujino's contract is about more than simply keeping a talented forward.

It represents a commitment to building around a younger core capable of sustaining the club's success.

The domestic double has changed the expectations around this team. City are no longer simply chasing Arsenal and Chelsea at the top of the Barclays Women's Super League, they are now the side everyone else has to catch.

That makes retaining players with Fujino's potential even more important.

Her versatility is another major asset.

Usually operating from the right side of the front three, she offers pace, creativity and an ability to press from the front. Her partnership with Kerstin Casparij was particularly effective last season, with Fujino's willingness to track back complementing her attacking threat.

And at just 22, there should still be plenty more to come.

Aoba Fujino Has Made Manchester City Her Home

For Fujino, the decision was also about how comfortable she has become in Manchester.

She explained that the support she has received since arriving played a major role in her decision to extend her stay.

The fans, teammates and wider club environment have helped Manchester become home, something that can be particularly important for a player making the move from Japan to English football.

That relationship appears to work both ways.

Manchester City Director of Football Therese Sjogran described Fujino as a player with enormous potential, while praising both her quality on the pitch and attitude away from it.

That is perhaps the clearest explanation of why City wanted this deal done.

What Comes Next for Aoba Fujino at Manchester City?

Fujino's new contract takes her through to 2030, giving her the opportunity to grow alongside a Manchester City side that has already shown what it can achieve.

The challenge now is to turn potential into consistency.

She has already scored in an FA Cup final, contributed to a historic double and established herself as a Japan international.

But if Fujino is right that she is capable of more, City supporters could be about to see the best version of her yet.

And that may be the most exciting part of this new deal.