Two "Man City" players extended their contracts © EuroFootball.com

Two players - defender Joey Barton and defender Micah Richards - have signed new contracts with the club and will represent the team for another four years, until 2010.

23-year-old J. Barton has tied his future with Manchester City despite negotiations for a new contract stalling, when the player's agent Willie McKay demanded an extra £100,000.

"I, like the club, are ambitious. I said that if the club acquires good players, I will tie my future with this team. The club did so, and I am a man of my word," said the defender to the club's website. - "It's great that everything has finally been sorted out. I am grateful for the trust and support shown to me by the team's coach and president, offering a new contract. The support from the fans was also a really great motivation."

These are amazing news. I've always maintained that Joey's future will continue in this club, as the player is happy here," said City's head coach Stuart Pearce. - "Joey is improving as a player and I am convinced that with hard work by him and us, he can fulfill his ambitions in this club."

Meanwhile, 18-year-old defender Micah Richards has also signed a four-year contract despite the player's previous contract still having two years remaining. The player became a regular member of the first team last year and made his debut in a match against Arsenal in October 2005.

This summer, Manchester City has already added five new players: goalkeeper Joe Hart, defenders Dietmar Hamann and Ousmane Dabo, as well as two forwards - Paul Dickov and Bernardo Corradi. However, the team may lose defender Sylvain Distin, with whom both Middlesbrough and Portsmouth are competing.