The longest + most expensive contract in football! Manchester City lock in the Haaland era

The reporter reported coldly January 17 will be a moment that will go down in the history of world football: Manchester City have officially announced that Haaland has signed a ten-year contract extension until the summer of 2034. The contract surpasses Chelsea's Palmer and Jackson (nine years) to become the longest term for a professional player in world football. The Daily Mail revealed that Haaland's weekly salary in the contract extension also increased from £375,000 to £500,000, and the Norwegian became the first superstar in the Premier League to earn £500,000 a week. The total base salary of the total contract alone will be as high as 260 million pounds, and if you include various competitive and personal honor bonuses, as well as image rights earnings, Haaland's weekly income will reach a staggering 850,000 pounds!

According to British media, Manchester City have agreed to bring forward the contract extension from this summer to the beginning of this season as a sign of sincerity. This means that over the next 10 years, Haaland will earn more than 52 million euros a year at Manchester City, with a total contract value of 524 million euros. This is one of the most expensive contracts in professional sports in the world, and while the total amount is not as high as Messi's highest four-year contract at Barcelona (€555 million), Messi's contract includes a whopping €115 million in renewal bonuses and €78 million in loyalty bonuses, which are not included in Haaland's contract extension. This contract also exceeds the two-and-a-half-year contract (500 million euros) that Cristiano Ronaldo signed to Riyadh Victory, at least in the football world, Haaland's ultra-long-term contract extension is one of the most expensive in history.

Even compared to other professional sports, Haaland's extraordinarily long contract is among the highest. In December last year, Major League Baseball Dominican baseball superstar Juan Soto signed a 15-year, $765 million (€728 million) contract with the New York Mets, the most valuable professional athlete in the world. In second place is the signing of the Los Angeles Dodgers to a ten-year contract (2024-2033) with Japanese baseball player Shohei Ohtani in October 2023, with a total value of $700 million (660 million euros). Counting Messi's contract that year, Haaland's contract extension is currently among the top four in world sports history, surpassing Jeddah United's Benzema (2 years 400 million euros) and North American rugby's largest contract owner Mahomes (10 years 375 million euros).

Haaland's shocking super contract shocked the Premier League and the entire football world. The contract runs until the summer of 2034, by which time Haaland will be 34 years old, meaning it is almost a lifetime contract. Moreover, the release clause in Haaland's first contract has also been removed. The contract extension has a new termination clause that will not take effect until the summer of 2029. Although the exact amount of the clause has not been disclosed, it is said to be substantial enough to deter clubs who want to take Haaland away.

Sporting director Begiristan, who is leaving Manchester City this summer, is the main operator of Haaland's super-long contract extension. He said City's signing of Haaland on a 10-year contract is a testament to the club's long-term commitment to the player and Haaland's love for City, with the Norwegian superstar willing to leave the Blues for the next 10 years. It is said that Pep Guardiola's contract extension for two years is an important reason why Haaland is determined to sign an ultra-long contract. The Norwegian superstar is confident that Pep Guardiola will complete Manchester City's metabolism during the contract period and establish a new championship team with himself at its core.

The signing of this long-term contract means that Manchester City has officially entered the "Haaland era", and the strategy of the Blue Moon Army in the next ten years will completely revolve around Haaland. Regardless of whether Pep Guardiola leaves the club in the future and who becomes the successor to the Spanish coach, the Haaland era will not change.

Haaland's signing of such a long contract with Manchester City would certainly link people to the 115 financial fairness breaches charges against Manchester City. Manchester City are under investigation by the Premier League for financial fairness breaches and the verdict is expected to be in place as soon as February. If the allegations are confirmed, the penalties that City accept could result in the team being relegated from the Premier League. However, Haaland, who signed a long-term contract, said that even if Manchester City were relegated as a result, he would remain with the Blues. Haaland's extra-long contract extension is a sign to boost confidence in the Manchester City dressing room and the club, and to dispel fears that the team could fall apart after Manchester City's penalty.

Manchester City opted to sign Haaland to a long-term contract ahead of the ruling on the financial fairness irregularities, apparently in preparation for possible penalties. The British media believes that Manchester City is very optimistic about the verdict of the investigation of irregularities, but they are also prepared for both. Signing an ultra-long-term contract with Haaland in advance can be regarded as an ultra-long-term "insurance" for the possibility of heavy penalties. After all, even if Manchester City are relegated in the worst-case scenario, the Blues still have a chance to appeal, and the litigation cycle could be as long as several years, enough for the club to complete its metabolism at the same time.

The British press has mentioned Brazilian legend Denilson, who is a prime example of signing a super-long contract. After the 1998 World Cup, Denilson joined La Liga powerhouse Real Betis for a world-record transfer fee of 31.5 million euros. At the time, Denilson was also on a ten-year contract with Betis, but Betis was relegated after two seasons. In the summer of 2005, after seven seasons at the club, Betis sold Denilson to Bordeaux in Ligue 1 for 500,000 euros.

Haaland, who has proven himself in the Premier League, is clearly not Denilson, and Manchester City's signing of a super-long contract with the superstar who is most likely to usher in a new era after the Mero era is tantamount to declaring to the world their ambition to dominate the Premier League and European football for the next decade. Of course, it is also a demonstration to the Premier League in the face of financial charges.