Erling Haaland has dedicated the vast majority of his career to Manchester City, signing an extraordinary new contract that will keep him at the Etihad Stadium until the summer of 2034.
Haaland’s previous terms were set to expire in June 2027, but according to people familiar with the matter, speaking anonymously to protect relationships, he has now put pen to paper on an improved nine-and-a-half-year deal that covers 10 seasons.
In the end, the Norway international will be 34 years old – and all release clauses included in his last contract have been removed.
While the precise figures are unclear at the moment, people close to the matter say it is one of the most lucrative sporting contracts ever and highlights the connection between Haaland and City.
Despite speculation linking the 24-year-old with a move to Real Madrid, Haaland is known to be extremely happy living in Manchester and representing the Premier League champions.
Following a €60 million move from Borussia Dortmund in 2022, the prolific striker has scored 111 goals in 126 games and won two English top-flight titles, an FA Cup, the Champions League and a Super Cup.
Haaland has enjoyed a hugely successful spell in Manchester (Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
Haaland will almost certainly surpass manager Pep Guardiola’s time at City, with the decorated Catalan signing a two-year extension last November that will take him until 2027.
Guardiola, the club’s staff, teammates and hierarchy – right up to president Khaldoon Al Mubarak – are known to have an excellent relationship with Haaland. He also recently became a parent, settling down after moving to the area and emulating his father Alfie in playing for City.
Retaining the man they consider to be the best leader in the world – and for such a period – will delight City and their supporters, especially in the middle of a season which has so far seen them struggle on the pitch.
Off the pitch, they are still awaiting the outcome of the battle against the Premier League over alleged breaches of financial rules, which is expected to reach a verdict this year.
It’s already been a busy month at City; they are in the process of signing central defenders Abdukodir Khusanov and Vitor Reis from Lens and Palmeiras respectively, in addition to Eintracht Frankfurt striker Omar Marmoush.
GO DEEPER
Erling Haaland’s huge career contract: What signing until 2034 means for him and Man City
“The cornerstone of the city for the next decade”
Analysis by Manchester City correspondent Sam Lee
This is a truly remarkable development.
When Haaland signed for City in 2022, it was expected that he would only be in the Premier League on a fleeting basis, fueled not only by the general assumption that he would like to play for Real Madrid, but also by the his own father’s comments on mobility. the best European leagues.
And yet, not only has he signed a new deal with City, he’s also signed one that makes him a cornerstone of the club for the next decade, a deal that will certainly allow him to outlast Pep Guardiola, much to his credit. majority, if not all. his teammates, and probably also many leaders.
Nobody knows how the next nine years will play out, but the plan is now obvious: everything will be built around Haaland. It’s his town now.
What does this mean for the Premier League goalscoring record?
Analysis by Mark Carey
Where does that leave Erling Haaland in the race to become the Premier League’s all-time top scorer? Well, actually the math is simple.
Haaland has scored 79 goals since arriving in England, with Alan Shearer’s tally of 260 goals a distant desire. Although Haaland’s rate of 0.96 league goals per 90 is supernatural, Haaland will surely never be able to reach Shearer’s record based on the longevity of his Premier League career alone – spanning 14 seasons.
This new contract completely changes the narrative.
Even a conservative estimate of an average of 20 goals over the next 10 seasons would allow Haaland to reach the total before the end of his contract. A realistic estimate would see him shatter the water record with time on his hands, provided he gets lucky with injuries.
This isn’t just big news for Erling Haaland or Manchester City fans. This news could have repercussions on the history of the Premier League.
(Top image: Dan Goldfarb/Visionhaus/Getty Images)
