AFC Bournemouth midfielder Lewis Cook has reportedly triggered a contract extension to his current deal on the south coast.
The Daily Echo have reported that the clause, written in his previous contract, has been automatically triggered which now means his contract isn’t set to expire until the conclusion of the 2025/26 campaign.
Cook came through the Leeds United academy and was playing for their Under 18’s side at the age of just 15, whilst at Elland Road he also broke into the England youth set-up representing England right through from Under 16’s to the Under 19’s.
He made the move to AFC Bournemouth aged just 19 in July 2016, the fee was officially undisclosed but was reported to be around £6million rising to a possible £10million with various add-ons.
Within a year he was obtaining international success, as he became the first man since Bobby Moore in 1966 to captain England in the final of a World Cup and then went on to lift the trophy, as England Under 20’s World Cup celebrated success.
By March 2018 he had broken into the full England set-up winning his first international cap and he was on standby for the World Cup squad in Russia, but would eventually miss out. Instead, he captained England Under 21’s to success in the Toulon Tournament.
The 2018/19 campaign, however, was a low point for Cook as his form saw him drop out of the AFC Bournemouth squad and then injury sidelined him for nine months.
He returned from injury for the 2019/20 season, a campaign that will be remembered for the suspension due to the global pandemic and eventual relegation from the top flight of English football in front of empty stadiums.
The nightmare run for Cook continued in 2020/21 as he suffered a second ruptured anterior cruciate ligament injury.
The two major injury blows have hampered his international journey, but the 2023/24 Premier League campaign under new coach Andoni Iraola may have put him back in the mix for international recognition after the upcoming UEFA European Championship campaign.
Depending on injuries Cook is set to surpass 250 appearances in all competitions for the Cherries in the upcoming 2024/25 Premier League campaign.
Your say…
kirsikka
Fantastic news!
Interesting that Cook triggered it rather than run his contract down. Maybe he’s a bit more cautious than some other players given the serious injuries he has endured. Whatever the reason, it’s good for us.
BilbaoCherry
Great news.
A key player in the team and is the perfect age to keep growing with the club.
Exciting times.
Neil Dawson
Awesome news. One of the joys of this season has been seeing him finally play a season of the football we all knew he was capable of. – To join the conversation, click here.
Some of the best news to come from AFCB since the season finished
A really great player who now plays with the confidence in his ability
Rickie