What Haaland's 10-Year Mega Deal Means for Man City – and for Football

Yes, you read that correctly: 10 years. Erling Haaland's monumental new contract with Manchester City is so lengthy that even Chelsea, known for their long-term deals, might be taken aback. City’s announcement of the longest contract in football history sends a powerful message about how highly they value the Norwegian striker, with plans for him to remain at the Etihad Stadium for the rest of his career and lead the team long after Pep Guardiola has moved on.

Haaland, who has netted 111 goals in 126 games for City, expressed his excitement: “I am super proud and happy and I am looking forward to staying here for a long time. After speaking with the people I’ve spoken with, the hunger and support I’ve received from the board, the bosses, and Pep made it an easy decision. I am delighted.”

This deal also effectively shuts the door on any club hoping to sign the striking sensation, particularly Real Madrid. By committing so firmly to City, Haaland is clearly confident in the club’s future, even amidst their struggles in defending the title this season, and believes they will remain a dominant force in football for many years to come.

"The fact he has signed for so long demonstrates our commitment to him as a player, and his love of this club," said City's sporting director Txiki Begiristain. "He has made an incredible impact already in his time here and his amazing numbers and records speak for themselves. He is one of the finest strikers in world football, but Erling is still very young and will only continue to improve working under Pep and his coaching team. If he works hard, which I know he will, he will create an incredible legacy at this football club."

Here’s what Haaland’s massive contract means for the striker, Manchester City, and the wider football world...

Confidence over 115 charges

Upon hearing about Haaland’s new contract, rival fans quickly joked that the striker might end up spending years in football’s lower leagues as City await the outcome of their Premier League hearing over 115 charges related to alleged financial rule breaches. However, this contract actually signifies the complete opposite.

The fact that both City and Haaland have agreed to such an extended deal reflects their confidence that the club will not suffer significant consequences from the hearing. While Haaland undoubtedly holds a deep affection for the club, there’s no way he would sign up for a prolonged stint outside of the top tier. His representatives would have sought reassurances from CEO Ferran Soriano and chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak before agreeing to the contract, and they must have been satisfied with the answers.

Pep Guardiola, too, would have sought similar guarantees when he extended his contract in November. This suggests that City are confident either in winning their legal battle or at worst facing a hefty fine.

Life after Pep

Haaland’s strong relationship with Guardiola is one of the key reasons behind his decision to extend his stay at City. When Haaland first joined the club in 2022, reports suggested there was a clause in his contract allowing him to leave if Guardiola were to depart. However, after securing his new deal, Haaland emphasized how much Guardiola has influenced his growth.

“It’s so nice to work with him. Not just because he’s the best, but because he’s also the hardest-working person I’ve ever seen,” Haaland said. “People think it’s only about talent, but the number of hours he puts in is motivating and inspiring to see. It’s tough and demanding, but that’s what I want. I want people to expect a lot from me and put pressure on me. So far, so good.”

While Guardiola’s tenure at City may not last as long as Haaland’s new contract, with the manager already in his ninth year at the club and approaching 63 by 2034, Haaland’s long-term deal makes it clear that the striker will remain a central figure in the club’s future, even after Guardiola’s eventual departure.

Shearer's record in serious danger

City announced Haaland’s new deal with a playful video in which the Norwegian writes a letter to Premier League defenders, saying, “Sorry, I’m here to stay.” He might have also sent an apology to Alan Shearer, whose record as the league's all-time top scorer is now under serious threat.

Two years ago, Shearer considered Harry Kane the primary contender to break his record. When news surfaced that Kane was close to joining Bayern Munich, the Newcastle legend even offered to fly him there. But Shearer hadn’t accounted for Haaland, whose meteoric rise now poses a much greater challenge to his cherished record.

Haaland shattered Shearer and Andy Cole’s long-standing record for the most goals in a single season during his debut Premier League campaign, scoring 36 goals. He’s kept up the pace ever since, netting 27 goals last season to retain the Golden Boot despite missing two months due to a foot injury. With 16 goals already this season, Haaland’s Premier League tally has reached 79 goals in under three seasons.

Shearer ended his career with 260 goals over 14 seasons, averaging 18 goals per year. Haaland, however, is currently averaging more than 30 goals per season, putting him on track to surpass Shearer by 2031. Even if his pace slows down, his contract runs until 2034, giving him plenty of time to claim the title of the Premier League’s all-time top scorer.

Real Madrid robbed of another Galactico

In 2022, Real Madrid were one of Manchester City’s main rivals to sign Haaland, with the Norwegian, his father Alfie, and his representatives visiting the Santiago Bernabeu to meet with club officials and discuss a potential move. However, Haaland had concerns, notably over the outstanding form of Karim Benzema and the impending arrival of Kylian Mbappe. He ultimately chose City, where he was guaranteed to be the No. 1 striker.

While Madrid remained an appealing future option, Haaland didn't completely dismiss the idea of a move, casually responding "you never know" when asked about leaving City. But now that he’s committed to City for the next decade, any hopes Real Madrid had of signing him are all but extinguished.

Since their ill-fated acquisition of Eden Hazard in 2019, Real Madrid have moved away from paying exorbitant transfer fees. While they spent big on Jude Bellingham, their strategy has largely been to target players nearing the end of their contracts, securing them for free. This approach worked with Antonio Rudiger, David Alaba, and even Mbappe, and it’s how they plan to pursue players like Trent Alexander-Arnold and Alphonso Davies. If Madrid ever want to sign Haaland, they will have to wait until 2034. In the meantime, Florentino Perez will have to do without this 'Galactico'.

City's latest rebuild

Guardiola recently admitted that he was offered the opportunity to make additional signings last summer but chose to rely on the same players who had delivered four consecutive Premier League titles. In hindsight, he acknowledges that this was a significant mistake, especially considering City's faltering campaign and the urgent need to refresh his squad.

That process has already begun, with Kyle Walker set to depart by the end of the month and several other members of the treble-winning team expected to follow him out the door in the summer. Meanwhile, the club is preparing to welcome defenders Abdukodir Khusanov and Vitor Reis, while still working on a deal for Eintracht Frankfurt striker Omar Marmoush.

At just 24, Haaland was never seriously considering leaving City, but the new contract is now a clear signal that he will be at the heart of the team Guardiola and his staff are building for the future.

A message to Arsenal and Liverpool

City may have already conceded this year's title race, trailing Liverpool by 12 points with one game more played than Arne Slot's league leaders. However, Haaland's new contract sends a strong message to Liverpool, Arsenal, and Chelsea, signaling that City will be planning a fresh assault on the Premier League, both next season and in the years to come.

For their rivals, this news is both a warning and an opportunity. Haaland guarantees goals, and his ability to dominate against lower-half and mid-table teams was a key factor in City securing the last two titles, edging out Arsenal. Yet, Haaland's record in the biggest matches has often been underwhelming—he failed to score in both games against Arsenal last season and was largely ineffective in City's disappointing loss at Anfield.

Many critics argue that, despite his remarkable goal-scoring feats, Haaland has made City weaker in the long term. His focus on finishing in the box means City often have fewer options in build-up play, leading to less control in midfield—a quality Guardiola once prioritized above all else.

While City clearly believe Haaland isn’t to blame for their struggles this season and are confident he will help deliver more trophies once the squad is revamped, their rivals might find his continued presence at the club a silver lining—an indication that City’s dominance is far from guaranteed.