Erling Haaland has announced his intention to spend the majority of his professional football career at Manchester City by extending his contract by nine-and-a-half years.
The Norway international was already tied down until June 2027 under the terms of his previous contract, but his new and improved deal will last less than a decade and will keep him at the Etihad Stadium until 2034.
Haaland is still only 24 years old, but he will turn 34 when this new contract expires. Most importantly for England’s defending champions, all release clauses from his previous term have been removed. The deal, which surpasses the nine-year extension Cole Palmer signed with Chelsea last August, is not only the longest contract in Premier League history, but also one of the most lucrative. Sources told CBS Sports’ James Benge the deal could be worth around $610,000 (£500,000) per share.
“I plan on staying for a long time,” Holland said. “Now that I’ve been here for a long time, I can fully focus on getting better. I’m just committed to performing and getting better to give all my fans what they want. It’s gone by really quickly. I feel like I got a deal.” It was going really fast a little while ago, which is a good thing.
“In my two and a half years as a City player I won many trophies, played good football and had great moments with the whole club and the fans. I still remember the rainy parade (after the treble) because it was a typical Manchester parade. “It was probably the biggest and best moment of the last two and a half years.”
Speculation has suggested Haaland has been regularly linked with Real Madrid, but the Scandinavian goal machine has decided to strengthen his links with the Citizens instead.
Guardiola has committed his future to City until 2027, and Haaland is likely to outlast the Manchester boss as he has now scored 111 goals in just 126 games.
The former Borussia Dortmund and Red Bull Salzburg hitman arrived in 2022 and has already won two Premier League titles and a single UCL, FA Cup and UEFA Super Cup crowns.
The Haaland development is also a major boost for City at a time when they await a decision on their legal battle with the EPL over alleged breaches of financial rules.
That verdict is expected to come this year and possibly before the end of the current season, with the Manchester giants currently working hard to secure reinforcements for the January transfer window.
Brazilian defender Vitor Reis is expected to join from Palmeiras, along with Uzbekistan youngster RC Lens’ Abdukodir Khusanov and Eintracht Frankfurt striker Omar Marmoush. Marmoush) is also expected to join.
