Frank Lampard's Contract Extended by Manchester City: Latest Details, Reaction

In a move that shouldn't come as a complete surprise, Manchester City have extended star midfielder Frank Lampard's contract until the end of the 2014-15 season. In the summer of 2015, Lampard will begin his New York City FC career.  

Continue for updates.

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Lampard Deal With NYCFC Starts on July 1

Friday, Jan. 9

David Waldstein of The New York Times has the latest on Lampard:

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Lampard Slams "Lies" and "Nonsense", NYCFC, Manchester City Admit Mistake

Friday, Jan. 9

A lot of criticism has fallen the way of Lampard and Manchester City, who have been painted as centre-pieces in a murky picture that portrays NYCFC as helpless victims of a cunning plot to move the midfielder to City for free.

Lampard has moved to put an end to the speculation, insisting he will honour his promise to play in MLS at the end of the Premier League season. Oliver Kay of The Times provides the statement:

NYCFC admitted its error in the situation as well, according to Rob Harris of the Associated Press:

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New York City FC acknowledged on Friday that it unintentionally misled fans by wrongly announcing the signing of Frank Lampard last year when he never had a playing contract for the Major League Soccer expansion team.

After being released by Chelsea, NYCFC paraded Lampard in Manhattan in July after announcing he "signed a two-year contract which starts August 1st."

In fact, he agreed to only a "commitment" to play for NYCFC on a two-year contract from January 2015, the player and City Football Group said on Friday.

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Jamie Jackson of Guardian had Manchester City's side:

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A clarification issued on Friday by the club said: “The statement on the NYCFC website in July saying Lampard’s two-year contract took effect from Aug 1, 2014 was a mistake. [The] initial statement on City’s website that it was a loan was also an error.”

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Premier League, MLS Comment on Lampard Contract

Thursday, Jan. 8

Grant Wahl of Sports Illustrated reported conflicting statements from the Premier League and MLS commissioner Don Garber regarding Frank Lampard's contract:

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MLS Commissioner Speaks on Lampard

Sunday, Jan. 4

Grant Wahl of SI.com provided a statement from MLS commissioner Don Garber discussing Lampard's status with Sports Illustrated last night:

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I could understand why their fans are unhappy, and I do believe [NYCFC] will work hard to build back that trust. They’ve started that process already. I sensed this was coming, and it didn’t surprise me when they ultimately made their decision. You’re dealing with a very unusual set of circumstances. Frank has become one of the most important players in Man City’s season, and he’s scored critical goals to have them tied for first place in the Premier League.

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I’m going to be supportive of all our ownership groups, making them aware of my point of view. But we need to work hard now to move forward and recognize that Frank will be joining this team in July along with other Designated Players, who throughout the history of the Designated Player program have almost always joined in July. If there was an error in judgment on this, it was not just announcing that he would come in July and figuring out how to manage the start of the season, no different than what happened with Robbie Keane or Thierry Henry or David Beckham. 

I think it’s important to say this: These guys [NYCFC] are very committed to MLS and committed to New York … They have made an unprecedented investment in MLS and New York City, and they are going to continue to do so.

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Lampard Extension Announced

Wednesday, Dec. 31

The Citizens released a short statement via their official website confirming the news: "Manchester City can confirm that it has extended Frank Lampard’s contract up to the end of Manchester City’s season, enabling his continued participation in both domestic and European campaigns."  

BBC Sport's David Ornstein provided more details, explaining the particulars behind the move:

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Lampard "signed" for New York City FC in July but with the new MLS season not starting until March, he joined Manchester City - who part-own New York City - until January.

Crucially, this was not a loan deal but a short-term contract signed as a free agent. It is understood the contract was for the entire season, with a break clause that was agreed would be activated at midnight tonight.

City needed that break clause removed if Lampard was to remain with them, which happened today.

But there was no need to re-sign him or re-register him with the Premier League because he was already on a contract until the end of the season and therefore registered as a City player - eligible for Sunderland and beyond. All that needed to happen was removal of the break clause.

Amendments to existing contracts require Premier League board ratification, which happened today.

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The 36-year-old became a free agent after his contract with Chelsea ran out in the summer of 2014, and after completing a move to New York City FC, he was sent back to the Premier League to keep up his fitness.

Manuel Pellegrini talked about Lampard's situation after Thursday's match, according to Jamie Jackson of The Guardian and ESPN's Miguel Delaney:

Jose Mourinho spoke out about the news following Chelsea's match vs. Tottenham, via Simon Evans:

Lampard quickly made a strong impact for the defending champions, and by December, Manuel Pellegrini openly expressed his desire to keep the former England international around a little longer. With these kinds of statistics, via Sky Sports, that wish was understandable:

City will be without star midfielder Yaya Toure for the duration of AFCON, and Lampard adds a ton of experience and quality that will serve the club in his absence.

The extension means Lampard will miss at least three months of the MLS season, as well as training camps with his new club, NYFC. The new MLS franchise is a sister club of Manchester City, leading to some fans questioning the legitimacy of the loan deal, with the Citizens' circumventing Fair Play regulations.

The Associated Press' Rob Harris perhaps put it best:

Regardless, this is undoubtedly an excellent move for City. Lampard will provide Pellegrini with extra depth while Toure is away on international duty, as well as an experienced and proven scorer to use off the bench once his Ivorian team-mate returns.

The Citizens will need all the help they can get to continue their European run and defend their Premier League title, and they could do a lot worse than Lampard.