Erling Haaland has confirmed that his record nine-and-a-half-year deal with Manchester City contains no escape clause should the club be found guilty of breaching Premier League financial rules. The Norway striker was asked directly whether his contract, signed in January 2025 and keeping him at the club until his 34th birthday, included such a provision. His answer was simple: “No.”
City's squad locked in without escape clauses
City have secured their biggest asset – arguably the most lethal striker in the world – for nearly a decade, covering the best years of his career. He is still only 26. Every major club in the world is now watching what happens next with Haaland, ready to pounce if he suddenly becomes available. That also applies to the rest of City's list of superstars who have helped them enjoy so much success in recent years.
However, it is not just Haaland who lacks an escape clause. Other huge names signed in the last three transfer windows – City's net spend has been in excess of £300m between July 2025 and September 2026 – do not have escape clauses either.
How City attracted top talent amid charges
The charges for breaching Premier League financial rules were lodged in February 2023, but that has not stopped the club's success or their ability to attract the best players in the meantime. Rayan Cherki, Gianluigi Donnarumma, Antoine Semenyo and Marc Guehi all joined in 2025-2026, before the huge £450m outlay on an entirely new midfield this summer, including Enzo Fernandez, Elliott Anderson, Ayyoub Bouaddi and Iliman Ndiaye.
Argentina midfielder Fernandez had his heart set on Manchester City. Not only did he tell Chelsea he wanted to leave, but he also made it clear he wanted to go to City. England international Anderson had a straight choice between City and Manchester United – and chose City. It was the same for other players. Guehi could have had the pick of clubs in the summer if he had waited to be a free agent, yet chose City in January. Semenyo probably knew Arsenal would revisit a possible deal if he had bided his time.
Contingency planning and contract promises
City have completely changed their squad, from keeper (Ederson replaced by Donnarumma) to a new-look defence and midfield, with the likes of Kevin De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva moving on and Anderson, Fernandez and others coming in. This goes beyond a squad rebuild, suggesting some contingency planning in case they are found guilty and face not only relegation but also a transfer ban. But City do not see it like that. Either way, the squad is now incredibly well stocked.
The key factors in persuading those players to sign were not relegation clauses but a promise to honour any bonuses, add-ons and payments based on success – bonuses which would ordinarily be easily achievable. They will honour those contracts. The contracts will be watertight legally, and that is down to a good agent ensuring his client is protected.
City's unshakeable belief in innocence
The other thing people overlook is the power of City's belief that, as a club, they will ultimately prove their innocence. Inside the club, there has always been a genuine belief that they have enough evidence to answer the accusations. It is unshakeable, no matter what is thought from the outside. There has never been any doubt in the words, hearts and minds of City executives when talking to players, agents and families. That is pretty persuasive.
Ultimately, players probably do not need relegation escape clauses. If the ultimate punishment comes, the club will not be able to keep that wage bill in the Championship, let alone League One, no matter who owns the club. The likes of Haaland and Co have a genuine feeling for this club, and that should not be underestimated. But it would be naive to suggest that players will not want to leave to play Champions League football and fight for the biggest trophies. City's hand will probably be forced. That is how football works.
But the storm which has been brewing for years never remotely affected City's ability to attract and sign the best players to stay at the top no matter what.
