Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola says Erling Haaland’s new long-term contract is a sign of the Norwegian’s trust in the club.
The nine-and-a-half-year deal, running to 2034, is unprecedented for its length in the Premier League and will make Haaland one of the highest paid sports stars on the planet.
It comes as City wait to discover the outcome of the disciplinary hearing into their alleged 115 breaches of Premier League financial rules, which has brought the threat of a points deduction and even relegation.
“It is trust,” said Guardiola. “When one player decides to sign this type of contract, it is because he wants to show how desperate he is to be here.
“He settled perfectly. He loves the club and the people he’s around. He loves the Premier League. He is here with his wife and father and has decided there is no better place to be in the next 10 years, so he and his family decide to stay.”
It is understood clauses that existed in Haaland’s initial contract, which had been due to expire in 2027, have now been removed.
There have been reports of a break clause being inserted that takes effect in 2029, although that has not been confirmed by City or the player’s representatives.
The length of contract is beyond even those handed out to Chelsea players under their current ownership regime, and Guardiola said he needed to clarify the timescale when he was initially told.
“I said ‘Can you repeat? Are you sure?’. It is good news. It means a lot.”
Haaland has won the Premier League’s Golden Boot in both full seasons since his £51.2m move from Borussia Dortmund in 2022.
The 24-year-old is second behind Mo Salah with 16 in this season’s standings despite City’s relatively poor form.
Overall, Haaland has scored 111 goals in 126 appearances for the Blues and Guardiola sees no reason why the forward cannot eclipse Alan Shearer as the Premier League’s most prolific scorer.
“If he continues with the numbers he has had since he arrived, yes,” said the City boss ahead of Sunday’s trip to Ipswich.
“Now it’s down to the club, myself and everyone to make the right environment for him to express himself in every game, in every three days, to get the best of him.
“The players have to deliver the actions. With Kevin [de Bruyne] in his prime, Erling would be better.”