Erling Haaland Contract: Ranking of the biggest contracts in sports history, including Juan Soto, Cristiano Ronaldo and more

The announcement of Erling Haaland's extraordinary new nine-and-a-half-year deal at Manchester City has sparked new curiosity about the biggest contracts across global sport.

It is understood that Haaland's new deal makes him Manchester City's highest-paid player – a position that also now appears to make him the highest-paid player in the entire league – but how does the Norwegian striker's new contract compare to other superstars across other sporting fields?

The Haaland news comes just one month after the baseball game New York Mets The Dominican star signed Juan Soto to what is believed to be the biggest deal in the history of professional sport – a blockbuster 15-year deal worth $765m (£626m).

espn I reported at the time that Soto's blockbuster deal included a $75 million signing bonus, no deferred money, a full no-trade clause, and an opt-out after five years, which the Mets could get rid of by increasing his salary from $51 million. To $55 million over the last ten years of the deal.

If the Mets take that option, it would make the deal worth $805 million over the life of the contract, dwarfing the $700 million deal that Shuhei Otani I signed with Los Angeles Dodgers In 2023.

What are the largest annual and total contracts in sports?

Soto $51 million annual However, the salary is not the highest in world sports Forbes.

Cristiano Ronaldo He is said to earn around $210 million annually Al Nassrwhile Lionel Messi's 2017 decade with Barcelona He earned an annual salary of $168 million.

While the exact financial statements of HaalandIt is natural that the new player's contract will be closely guarded, and the latest contract represents an increase from the previous Norwegian's contract Sky Sports News He understood that his income was in the region of £400,000 ($487,596) per week, which made him… Man CityHighest income.

This previous deal could have been worth up to £20.8 million ($25.4 million) per year for the striker.

So, even if we use these previous figures as a starting point and extend that over his new nine-and-a-half-year term, it's clear that Haaland's new contract is worth more than £197.6 million ($241.3 million) over its full term.

Anything over $240 million puts Haaland's deal among the 50 most lucrative sports contracts of all time.

In other sports, four-time Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen He has an annual salary of $60 million Red Bullwith an additional $15 million in performance-related add-ons.

Soto wouldn't even be the highest-paid player in the United States Dak Prescott You will earn $60 million annually with dallas cowboys, while Steph Curry He is the highest-paid NBA star with an annual salary of more than $55 million.

But in terms of total money paid over the entire decade, Soto is far ahead of any other global sports star.

What did Haaland say about his new deal?

Commenting on his new contract, Haaland said: “I'm really happy to sign my new contract and be able to look forward to spending more time at this great club.”

He added: “Manchester City is a special club, full of great people and great fans, and it is this kind of environment that helps bring out the best in everyone.

“I also want to thank Pep (Guardiola), his coaching staff, my teammates and everyone at the club because they have all helped me a lot in the last two years. They have made this a special place to be and live.” Now I owe no matter what.

“I want to continue to improve and keep working to get better and I look forward to doing my best to try and help us achieve more success in the future.”

The deal comes after “months” of negotiations

Sky Sports News correspondent Ben Ransom:

“It's absolutely great. What a signing for Manchester City. What a moment to break this news as well.

“They call it a 10-year contract because we are in year one. It is unprecedented in terms of the length of the contract that Manchester City have given a player.

“In terms of the player to give him, who is better than Erling Haaland? A man who has already achieved a lot in the two and a half years he has been here and scored a lot of goals.

“You can only dream of where his tally might end up if he stays until 2034, when he turns 34.

He added: “It is clear that he is a player who loves Manchester City. He is someone who was born into a family that has a real connection to Manchester City through his father, Alfie Haaland.”

“From City’s point of view, there is real joy that he has committed to his future.”