Pep Guardiola was so stunned when learning the length of Erling Haaland’s record new nine-and-a-half-year contract that he asked Txiki Begiristain, Manchester City’s sporting director, to repeat himself.
The 24-year-old’s fresh terms tie him to the champions until 2034 and will earn him a basic salary of about £500,000 a week. It is the longest agreed by a player in domestic competition.
Guardiola does not get involved in contract negotiations and was asked how he reacted to the news from Begiristain. “I said: ‘Can you repeat?’ And he said to me. ‘[10].’ I said: ‘Sure?’ And he said: ‘Yes.’ So, good news. That means a lot.”
Haaland has proved a phenomenon at City, scoring 111 goals in 126 games since signing from Borussia Dortmund in the summer of 2022. Guardiola was asked if the length of the Norwegian’s contract was to ensure he cannot leave in his prime years for no fee. Last summer, Kylian Mbappé signed for Real Madrid on a free transfer from Paris Saint-Germain at the age of 25.
“I don’t know the reason,” said Guardiola. “I didn’t ask. I think what happened in this situation, he feels it. He feels that it’s the best for me, my career, playing in this club. It’s no more difficult than that and, of course, he’s a special player.
“To find a player like Erling is so difficult. To find strikers at that level, once we have it, why don’t we make the effort to keep him? The club made a huge effort.”
“It’s the trust for the club [in] Erling. Because you never know what can happen in the next year. But the club knows perfectly how professional he is. His commitment in every single game and every single day to show his talent. And for him, because in 10 years, you never know what’s going to happen – it’s a long time.”
FOOTBALL
Lionel Messi (Barcelona)
Four-year deal, £492m
The Argentinian’s final Barcelona contract, signed in 2017, proved to be his last one as he left the club on a free in 2021 amid the club’s financial difficulties.
Cristiano Ronaldo (Al-Nassr)
Two-and-a-half-year deal, £422m
Portuguese superstar signed with the Saudi Pro League side in January 2023, becoming the first major European star to switch to Saudi Arabia.
Karim Benzema (Al-Ittihad)
Three-year deal, £370m
Another who joined the influx of European talent to the Saudi Pro League in the summer of 2023, quitting Real Madrid in the process.
Neymar (Al-Hilal)
Two-year deal, £86m pa
Played five games for his new Saudi club, before he ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament while on international duty with Brazil in October 2023.
Kylian Mbappé (Paris Saint-Germain)
Three-year deal, £61m pa
Earned his huge pay before opting against the further 12 months as the allure of Real Madrid in the summer of 2024 proved too much for the French international.
BASEBALL
Juan Soto (New York Mets)
15-year deal, £630m
The Dominican caused a storm when he switched from the New York Yankees to their city rivals in December, signing the most lucrative deal in sports history.
Shohei Ohtani (LA Dodgers)
10-year deal, £575m
Japanese pitcher signed what was then the biggest ever sports contract at the end of the 2023 season, the bulk of which is deferred for a decade.
Mike Trout (LA Angels)
12-year deal, £350m
The MLB star signed a new agreement in 2019, with the contract, according to reports, starting in the 2023 season allowing the player to pocket up a yearly salary of $35.5m.
NFL
Patrick Mahomes (Kansas City Chiefs)
10-year deal, £370m
Signed his contract extension back in 2020, months after the quarterback led his team to a Super Bowl title. Incentives could push that figure as high as $503m, around £412.5m.
GOLF
Jon Rahm (LIV)
Four-year deal, £386m
The new LIV tour has captured the signings of some of the PGA’s biggest players. None more so than the two-time major winner who sensationally made the switch in 2023. Tony Paley
“I am super happy,” said Haaland, who was previously contracted at City until 2027. “I am proud. It is difficult to put into words because it is a big moment.
“I am looking forward to staying here for a long time. Speaking with the people I spoke with, the hunger and the support I have been getting for the last couple of years from the board, from the bosses and from Pep, it was an easy decision.”
Haaland has won two Premier League titles, the FA Cup, the Champions League, the Uefa Super Cup and the Fifa Club World Cup at City. He stated a desire for more and to keep improving.
“Now I can fully focus on getting better because I am going to stay here for such a long time,” he said. “Full focus on performing and getting better to give all of the fans what they want.
“It feels like I signed a moment ago. It has been going really quick and that is a good thing. It means I am enjoying it.”
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“For two and a half years as a City player I have been winning loads of trophies, playing loads of good football, having so many great moments together with the whole club and with the fans. I still remember the rainy parade [after the 2023 treble] which was maybe the biggest and best moment because it was a typical Manchester parade. It has been amazing and like a dream in this two and a half years.”
Haaland’s decision is a considerable boost for City in a difficult season for them. They are sixth with 35 points, 12 points behind the leaders, Liverpool, having played a game more. They travel to Ipswich on Sunday.
The club are defending themselves against more than 100 charges brought by the Premier League. City deny all allegations. If the champions are found guilty then, depending on the severity of the verdict, one potential sanction is demotion from the top division.
