Manchester City is negotiating a new long-term contract with winger Jérémy Doku, the club confirmed to GFdaily this week. The talks come as City leans more heavily on its partnership with crypto exchange OKX to support its financial footing — a move that ties a rising player’s future to a digital-asset sponsor that’s become a fixture at the Etihad.
The Doku talks
Doku, 24, joined City from Rennes in 2023 and has been a regular under Pep Guardiola, racking up assists and drawing interest from several European clubs. The Premier League champions want to extend his stay beyond 2028, when his current deal is set to expire. Neither side has set a deadline, but sources close to the negotiations describe them as active and constructive.
The timing isn't accidental. City lost key winger Jack Grealish to injury late last season and sees Doku as a central piece of its attacking future. Locking him down now avoids a protracted saga next summer.
OKX and the crypto connection
City’s training kit sponsor, OKX, has been a fixture since 2022. The crypto exchange’s multi-year deal — reportedly worth tens of millions annually — gives the club a steady revenue stream that can be directed toward player retention. OKX has also dabbled in fan tokens and blockchain-based loyalty programs, though City hasn't rolled out anything major on that front yet.
What’s clear is that the OKX partnership adds a crypto angle to every major financial decision City makes. When the club evaluates a new contract, it does so with a sponsor that operates in a volatile, high-margin industry — one that’s been under regulatory scrutiny in both the UK and EU. For now, the money is there.
What the deal means for player finances
Top clubs increasingly use sponsorship income to fund wage bills and transfer fees. City’s OKX deal is part of a broader trend: Arsenal has a similar arrangement with a crypto platform, and Barcelona launched a fan-token partnership a few years back. The difference is scale. City’s commercial revenue has grown steadily, and the OKX deal is one of the richest in English football.
Doku’s representatives are aware of that. While the player wants to stay, the financial terms will reflect the club’s ability to pay competitive wages — and the sponsor’s willingness to keep writing checks.
Next steps
Negotiations are expected to continue through the summer break. City opens its pre-season tour in the US in July, and the club would like a resolution before then. Doku has not publicly commented on the talks. For now, the question is whether OKX’s crypto-backed capital helps seal the deal — or if the exchange’s own regulatory hurdles complicate matters down the line.
