Erling Haaland has signed an extraordinary nine-and-a-half-year contract at Manchester City but what do we know about the finances of the deal?
The agreement takes Haaland up to 2034 at the Etihad Stadium, making it the longest contract in the Premier League and putting paid to long-standing links with Real Madrid.
Here, we run through some of the key questions surrounding the deal and what it means for Manchester City’s rebuild – amid the looming 115 charges for alleged financial breaches – with help from Sky Sports News reporter Ben Ransom.
How have Man City pulled off this deal?
What a signing for Manchester City. It’s absolutely titanic.
This is a deal that has taken some time to put together. I’m told there have been months and months of negotiations between outgoing director of football Txiki Begiristain, helped by the incoming Hugo Viana and Manchester City’s executives, and Haaland and his team.
But there was always an appetite for him to extend his stay here. He is absolutely loving life in Manchester City. There has always been a feeling externally that Haaland was here as a stepping stone to Real Madrid, but he has committed his future here.
It just shows how much he is enjoying it.
He is someone who was born into a family that had a real affiliation with City through his dad Alfie Haaland. When he arrived, he really wanted to be part of the furniture. He has written his name into Manchester City folklore already.
What a moment to put this news out as well…
‘What a moment’ indeed. How should the news be read alongside the ongoing fight with the Premier League over the alleged 115 charges?
News of Haaland’s contract extension comes against the context of Manchester City fighting the Premier League over more than 100 charges of alleged financial breaches.
Given the most severe potential penalty is relegation, this is a statement of intent from City to reinforce their belief that they have done nothing wrong.
In fact, City believe everyone at the Premier League should be celebrating the fact that one of the best players in the world has committed to playing in this competition above the likes of LaLiga.
Manchester City have always maintained their innocence over the charges for allegedly breaching Premier League financial rules.
Like us, they are now waiting for an independent panel to decide on their verdict, and any potential sanctions if they are found to have broken rules, but Haaland’s new is certainly a statement of intent from City.
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Manchester City revealed Erling Haaland’s new contract in bizarre fashion. Courtesy of City Studios
Is Haaland now the Premier League’s highest-paid player?
Manchester City are keeping the finances of the deal well under wraps.
But the contract will provide an uplift on his previous deal, which we understand was in the region of £400,000 per week.
It’s certainly the biggest contract in Premier League history, given the length of the deal and the fact he’s City’s highest earner.
It’s hard to argue with the figures involved when you consider the fact that Haaland has scored 111 goals in 126 City appearances in all competitions so far.
Does the deal include any release clauses?
Sky Sports News understands Haaland’s new contract does NOT include any release clauses, which means any clauses in his previous contract have been removed.
As far as City are concerned, they are planning for the long-term future with Haaland. The deal puts to bed any links with Real Madrid.
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After signing a brand new contract with Premier League champions Manchester City, we take a look at Erling Haaland’s best ever goals from his time in the English top-flight
Why nine and a half years?
We are told the length of the deal has absolutely nothing to do with spreading costs to meet PSR regulations.
Manchester City believe they have plenty of head room on that front due to the profits they have made in the transfer market in recent seasons.
My rudimentary understanding of PSR rules is that amortisation is now limited to being spread over five years of a player’s contract.
The fact it’s a nine-and-a-half-year deal is therefore more of a pointer to the fact that Haaland is seen as one of the best players in the world and one City want to keep for as long as possible.
What does Haaland’s contract say about Man City’s rebuild under Guardiola?
It shows that Haaland is the man Manchester City want to build their team around.
Pep Guardiola is here for another two years (if he serves the full term of his own contract extension), so in theory Haaland will be a key component of the transition to the next manager – whoever that is.
There’s no doubt a rebuild is needed with so many of City’s top players getting older. You would expect recruitment to heavily favour a younger demographic over future windows.
How worried should the rest of the Premier League be?
Very. Haaland has been tormenting Premier League defences from the moment he arrived. As part of the new contract unveiling, he has already penned his apology to Premier League defenders to say they won’t be getting shot of him any time soon.
His total of 79 Premier League goals since the start of the 2022/23 season is 24 higher than the next player on the list in Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah.
The numbers underline just how devastating he has been, scoring at an unprecedented rate of 0.99 goals per 90 minutes. Carry on at the same rate and he will smash Alan Shearer’s record of 260 Premier League goals with several years of his contract to spare.
Already the world’s deadliest scorer, never mind the Premier League’s, it is worth noting he has not even reached his peak aged 24. The thought that his best is yet to come is a scary prospect for defenders up and down the division.
Haaland has the potential to break all of the top goalscoring records in Premier League history, and has been a massive component of what City have won in the last two seasons.
Expect more goals (and trophies) to follow.
