Erling Haaland has signed an exceptional nine-and-a-half-year contract with Manchester City, but what do we know about the financials of the deal?
The agreement takes Haaland until 2034 at the Etihad Stadium, making him the longest contract in the Premier League and bringing an end to long-standing links with Real Madrid.
Here, we address some of the key questions surrounding the deal and what it means for Manchester City's rebuild – amid 115 charges looming over alleged financial breaches – with the help of a Sky Sports News reporter. Ben Ransom.
How did Man City succeed in finalizing this deal?
What a signing for Manchester City. It's absolutely gigantic.
This is a deal that took some time to put together. I'm told there have been months and months of negotiations between the outgoing football director, Txiki Begiristain, the Manchester City executives, Haaland and his team.
But there was always a desire to extend his stay here. He is absolutely loving life at Manchester City. There was always an outside feeling that Haaland was here as a starting point for Real Madrid, but he has committed his future here.
It just shows how much he enjoys it.
He is someone who was born into a family with a real connection to Manchester City through his father, Alfie Haaland. When he arrived, he really wanted to be part of the furniture. He has already written his name into Manchester City folklore.
What a moment to break this news too…
“What a moment” indeed. How should the news be read alongside the ongoing tussle with the Premier League over the alleged 115 charges?
News of Haaland's contract extension comes in the context of Manchester City's fight with the English Premier League over more than 100 charges related to alleged financial violations.
With the most severe potential penalty being relegation, this is a statement of intent from City to reinforce their belief that they have done nothing wrong.
In fact, City believe everyone in the Premier League should celebrate the fact that one of the best players in the world has committed to playing in this competition above La Liga.
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Manchester City revealed Haaland's new contract in a strange way. Courtesy of City Studios
Has Haaland become the highest paid player in the English Premier League?
Manchester City keeps the financial affairs of the deal secret.
But the contract will provide an increase on his previous deal, which we understand was in the region of £400,000 per week. He is now undoubtedly the highest-paid player at Manchester City, and most likely, the highest-paid player in the Premier League as well.
Does the deal include any penalty clauses?
Sky Sports News Understands Haaland's new contract no No release clauses included, meaning any clauses in his previous contract have been removed.
Why nine and a half years?
We are told that the length of the deal has absolutely nothing to do with the spread of costs to meet PSR regulations.
Manchester City believe they have plenty of space on this front due to the profits they have made in the transfer market in recent seasons.
Rather, it is an indication of how much they value Haaland's exceptional contribution in terms of his goals, and their determination to restrict him for as long as possible.
How worried should the rest of the Premier League teams be?
very. Haaland has been tormenting Premier League defenses from the moment he arrived. His total of 79 Premier League goals since the start of the 2022/23 season is 24 more than the next player on the list, Liverpool's Mohamed Salah.
The numbers confirm the extent of his devastating impact, as he scored an unprecedented rate of 0.99 goals per 90 minutes. Continue at the same rate and he will break Alan Shearer's record of 260 Premier League goals several years before his contract expires.
He's already the deadliest goalscorer in the world, regardless of the Premier League, and it's worth noting that he hasn't even reached his peak at 24 years old. The idea that his best is yet to come is a scary thought for defenders up and down the division.
