'Extending Iraola's deal would be most important signing of the year'published at 15:31 BST 10 September 2025
Mark Mitchener
BBC Sport senior journalist
Image source, Getty ImagesWith the transfer window closed, fans' attention turns to players already under contract at their club - and especially to those in the final year of their current deals, who will be able to openly speak to other clubs from January, and leave on a free transfer next summer unless they re-sign.
Bournemouth have managed to tie one such player, versatile defender James Hill, to a new deal stretching until 2029, leaving Marcos Senesi, David Brooks and Adam Smith as the three remaining first-team players only contracted until the end of 2025-26.
Cherries captain Smith will be 35 by the time that contract expires, and having not taken previous opportunities to move away, looks likely to see out his career at the Dorset club.
But Bournemouth will be keen to persuade Senesi and Brooks, two of their more impressive performers in the opening games of the season, to extend their stays.
It is easy to forget how centre-back Senesi was an automatic choice for two years until he was injured last season, and unable to regain his place because of the meteoric rise of Real Madrid-bound Dean Huijsen.
Meanwhile, it is seven years since Brooks was among some star-studded nominees for the PFA Young Player of the Year award after a sparkling debut Cherries season in 2018-19. It has been a long road back for the Warrington-born Wales winger who missed most of 2019-20 with injury, and later spent nearly 18 months out of the game after being diagnosed with cancer.
Brooks told BBC Radio Solent at the end of last season that he might have to consider his options if he continued to struggle for playing time, but took a starring role in their last game at Tottenham, up against new England recruit Djed Spence.
Like Hill, midfielder Marcus Tavernier has put pen to paper until 2029, though he was already under contract beyond this season.
The elephant in the Vitality Stadium on the subject of contracts, however, is the situation of head coach Andoni Iraola, whose deal is also up next summer.
President of football operations Tiago Pinto told Sky Sports last week that the club were hoping to tie the much-admired Iraola to an extended contract. Now that really would be Bournemouth's most important signing of the year.


























