AFC Bournemouth midfielder Lewis Cook has agreed an improved contract at Dean Court.
The 25-year-old had a deal that ran until the summer of 2024, but the new deal sees a twelve-month extension added to the previous deal which will now see Cook contracted to the Cherries for the next three years.
He follows in the footsteps of Gavin Kilkenny, Mark Travers and Dominic Solanke who have all signed contract extensions with the club since promotion to the Premier League.
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.
From as early as 2015, AFC Bournemouth had been attempting to sign the central midfielder, but it wasn’t until July 2016 when AFC Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe finally got his man, or boy as it could be argued being just 19.
The fee was officially undisclosed but was reported to be around £6million rising to a possible £10million with various add-ons.
Lewis Cook became one of only a few new signings to immediately break into an Eddie Howe XI, starting the opening game of the Premier League campaign against Manchester United.
However, injury severely hampered his first season on the south coast and Cook had to wait eight months before he made another Premier League appearance.
He, however, ended the season becoming a household name across England 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.
Cook was an integral part of the England Under 20’s World Cup success.
That success from the summer of 2017 Cook took into his AFC Bournemouth form and by March 2018 he had broken into the full England set-up winning his first international cap.
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.
However, his form since his return has been some of the best of his entire career and he played a key role in seeing the Cherries win promotion from the Championship in 2021/22.
If selected for the 2022/23 Premier League season opener against Aston Villa, Cook will make his 150th appearance in all competitions for the Cherries.
AFC Bournemouth Chief Executive Neill Blake told afcb.co.uk…
“We’re very pleased to get another contract extension with a key player over the line.
“Lewis’ talent and work ethic are there for all to see and this is a massive boost for the club just before the start of the new season.
“He has played a huge role in our successes to date and is a key part of our future plans, so it’s fantastic that he has committed his future to the club.”
Your say…
blandford_cherry wrote…
Fantastic news. A couple of signings in the next couple of weeks and it’ll have been a great summer. – Join the conversation, click here.
