By James Ducker
Erling Haaland has signed one of sport’s biggest ever contracts, with legendary coach Pep Guardiola insisting the bombshell deal underlines the Manchester City striker’s “trust” in the club despite the threat of Premier League sanctions.
Haaland, still only 24, has committed the majority of his career to City by signing an unprecedented new nine-and-a-half-year deal with the Premier League champions that involves a huge increase on his existing £400,000-per week (nearly $790,000) salary.
Erling Haaland has signed one of the richest deals in sport history.Credit: AP
Sources say the new deal – which commits Haaland to City to within weeks of his 34th birthday – is one of the biggest in sport generally when taken over its full decade-long duration.
It is believed Haaland stands to earn a basic salary of around £26 million ($51 million) per year, which will be boosted considerably by an array of bonuses – and it is understood that the release clauses included in his previous deal have been removed.
There have been reports that a fresh release clause kicks in from 2029, but Telegraph Sport understands this is not the case. The relationship between Haaland and the club is considered to be so strong that it was not deemed necessary.
Haaland’s deal comes two months after Guardiola extended his own contract until June 2027, and at a time when City are struggling on the pitch and eagerly awaiting the outcome of their landmark legal battle with the Premier League, which has been described as the “trial of the century”.
City could face a range of punishments including points deductions and, with it, the threat of relegation if found guilty of the 115 charges the Premier League hit the club with in February 2023. A 12-week hearing concluded early last month, with a verdict expected in the next couple of months. City vehemently deny any wrongdoing.
Pep Guardiola (right) with his star pupil, Haaland.Credit: Getty Images
Guardiola says Haaland’s decision reflects the player’s faith in the club, despite what is hanging over them. “Absolutely. It’s the trust for the club to Erling because you never know what can happen in the next year,” the City manager said.
“But the club knows perfectly how professional he is – his commitment in every single game and every single day to show his talent. And, of course, for him, because in 10 years, you never know what’s going to happen. It’s a long, long time.
“Always in the short careers, you have to say, ‘OK, stay, we’ll see what happens.’ And he proved what he wanted. And the trust, as I said before, was the trust with the club.”
Guardiola added: “When one player decides to sign this type of contract that has never been done before, it’s because he wants to show how desperate he wants to be here. Otherwise, all the agents and players always say, ‘Sign a one or two or three-year contract, and the next one, next one.’ That means a proof of confidence and trust for that club.”
Guardiola admitted he initially thought he had misheard the club when they revealed Haaland would be signing a nine-and-a-half-year contract. “I said: ‘Can you repeat?’” he said. “And he said to me [nine and a half years]. I said: ‘Sure?’ And he said: ‘Yes.’ So, good news. That means a lot.”
Haaland is already on 79 goals and the prospect of him effectively seeing out his best days at City could put him in line to one day eclipse Alan Shearer’s record of 260 Premier League goals.
Asked about creating a legacy at the club, Haaland said: “Now I can fully focus on getting better, because I am going to stay here for such a long time. [I’ve got my] full focus on performing and getting better to give all of the fans what they want. I am super happy. I am proud. It is difficult to put into words because it is a big moment.
“In the end, speaking with the people I spoke with, the hunger and the support that I have been getting for the last couple of years from the board, from the bosses and from Pep, it was an easy decision. I am delighted.”
Haaland joined City in a £51 million move from Borussia Dortmund in 2022 and went on to win the Treble during a stunning debut campaign when he scored 52 goals.
Real Madrid, who missed out on him three years ago, have long coveted the striker. But this new deal effectively ends any lingering uncertainty over Haaland’s future at City and reaffirms the bond between the player and the club his dad Alfie also represented.
Haaland has scored 111 goals in just 126 appearances for City and, the Premier League case aside, the timing of the news is a huge development given the team’s troubles on the pitch this season.
City, who face Ipswich Town at Portman Road on Monday morning (AEDT), have won just three of their past 12 league matches dating back to late October and are currently sixth in the table, three points off fourth. They are also facing a battle to qualify for the Champions League knockout stages, with the team 22nd in the 36-team league table.
They face Paris St-Germain in the French capital midweek before playing their final European group game against Bruges a week later. Haaland is confident City will soon be back to their best.
“I am really confident that we will turn things around,” he said. “Things have been difficult as we are so used to winning games, but also it is a challenge for us. To get this feeling of hunger inside every single one of us to not look at things easier. Don’t take things for granted – that is an important thing. I will do everything I can to change things around. It is a bit of a reality check on actually how difficult it is just to win a game because look how good other teams are.”
Haaland admitted Guardiola has had a huge impact on him. “To get his input on me and how I can become a better footballer and to develop even more – he is the best,” he said.
“I have improved a lot. It is so nice to work with him. Not only because he is the best, but he is also the most hard-working person I have ever seen. People think it is only because of this or that, but the amount of hours he puts down is also motivating and inspiring to see.
“It is funny to work with him, it is hard and it is tough because he demands a lot, but that is what I want. I want people to demand a lot from me and to put pressure on me. So far, so good.”
Telegraph, London
