Erling Haaland has committed the vast majority of his career to Manchester City by signing an extraordinary new contract that will keep him at the Etihad Stadium until the summer of 2034.
Haaland’s previous terms were due to expire in June 2027, but according to people familiar with the deal, speaking anonymously to protect relationships, he has now put pen to paper on an improved nine-and-a-half-year agreement covering 10 seasons.
By the time the deal expires, the Norway international will be 34 years old – and any release clauses placed in his last deal have been removed.
Although the exact numbers are currently unclear, people familiar with the deal say it is among the most lucrative sporting contracts of all time and confirms the relationship between Haaland and City.
Despite speculation linking the 24-year-old with a move to Real Madrid, it is known that Haaland is very happy living in Manchester and representing the Premier League champions.
Following a €60m move from Borussia Dortmund in 2022, the prolific striker has scored 111 goals in 126 appearances and lifted two Premier League titles, an FA Cup, a Champions League and a Super Cup.
Haaland enjoyed a very successful time in Manchester (Catherine Ifill/Getty Images)
Haaland will almost certainly outgrow 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 staff, his teammates and the club’s hierarchy – right down to club president Khaldoon Al Mubarak – are known to have an excellent relationship with Haaland. He has also recently become a father, settling down after moving home in the local area and emulating his father Alfie by playing for City.
Retaining what they feel is the best striker in the world – and for such a period – will please City and their supporters, especially amid a season that has so far seen them struggle on the pitch.
Meanwhile, off the field, they are still awaiting the outcome of the battle against the Premier League over alleged financial rule breaches, which is expected to hand down a ruling this year.
It has already been a busy month at City; They are in the process of signing central defenders Abdelkader Khosanov and Vitor Reis from Lens and Palmeiras respectively, in addition to Eintracht Frankfurt striker Omar Marmoush.
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“City cornerstone for the next decade”
Analysis by Manchester City correspondent Sam Lee
This is a remarkable development, frankly.
When Haaland signed for City in 2022, expectations were that he might only be in the Premier League for a short period, driven not only by the general assumption that he would like to play for Real Madrid, but also by comments made by his father about moving around the league. The most important European leagues.
However, not only has he signed a new contract with City, he has signed one that essentially makes him a cornerstone of the club for the next decade, a deal that is sure to see him outlast Pep Guardiola, the vast majority if not all of them. His teammates, and probably a lot of executives too.
No one knows how the next nine years will end, but the plan is now clear: everything will be built around Haaland. It is his city now.
What does that mean for the Premier League’s scoring record?
Analysis by Mark Curry
Where does this leave Erling Haaland in the race to be the Premier League’s all-time top goalscorer? Well, the math is really simple.
Haaland has scored 79 goals since arriving in England, while Alan Shearer’s tally of 260 is a long way off. While Haaland’s average of 0.96 league goals per 90 is an outlandish number, Haaland certainly never managed to catch up to Shearer’s number based solely on the length of his Premier League career – which spanned 14 seasons.
This new decade completely changes the narrative.
Even a conservative estimate of an average of 20 goals stretched across the next 10 seasons would see Haaland reach the number before his contract expires. A realistic estimate would see him blow the record out of the water with time to spare, provided he’s lucky with injuries.
This isn’t just big news for Erling Haaland or Manchester City fans. This news could have ripple effects throughout the history of the Premier League.
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(Top image: Dan Goldfarb/Feigenhaus/Getty Images)
