Erling Haaland‘s gigantic, nine-and-a-half-year contract is the most lucrative handed to a player in the history of football – although it falls short of netting him £1m a week, Mail Sport understands.
In 2022, we revealed that the Norwegian goal machine was on a total package of wages and bonuses that totalled close to £865,000 every seven days following his £51m move from Borussia Dortmund.
Under the terms of that deal, the prolific 24-year-old was paid a basic salary that was in line with the elite earners in Europe.
However, a series of almost guaranteed adds-ons, loyalty bonuses and image rights payments propelled him into a position where he was by far the highest-renumerated player in the country.
It is understood that the new contract, which does not feature a release clause, is built on similar principles and features a pay rise – although it falls short of taking him over the £1m mark.
One of the key factors in what is an astonishing deal is the fact that it is locked in for a decade. It means that, should Haaland remain at the Etihad, he will continue to pick up big numbers when he will be between 29 and 34 years of age and is potentially approaching the twilight of his career.
Erling Haaland signed a staggering nine-year contract to 2034 in one of football’s largest deals
The new deal Haaland has signed is the most lucrative in world football, Mail Sport can reveal
Manchester City star’s new contract total package falls short of just £1million-per-week
Haaland’s goals have helped Manchester City to claim the Premier League in 2023 and 2024
Haaland and his girlfriend Isabel Haugseng Johansen welcomed their first child last month
This publication also revealed that City beat off competition from Europe’s big guns when Haaland agreed to head to Manchester. The fee was relatively low thanks to a release clause in his contract.
Since his arrival, Haaland has scored a staggering 111 goals in 126 games.
‘I am really happy to have signed my new contract and to be able to look forward to spending even more time at this great club,’ he said.
‘Manchester City is a special club, full of fantastic people with amazing supporters and it’s the type of environment that helps bring the best out of everybody.
‘I also want to thank Pep (Guardiola), his coaching staff, my team-mates and everyone at the club as they have all helped me so much in the past couple of years.’
Txiki Begiristain, City’s director of football, added: ‘The fact he is signed for so long demonstrates our commitment to him as a player and his love for the club.’
