Haaland-City: a surprising union until 2034

Erling Haaland has signed a new contract with Manchester City, guaranteeing his presence at the club until 2034, as the Premier League team announced this Friday. This decision marks an unusual strategy in the world of football, especially in this complex period for the great leader of English football in recent years.

His previous contract expired in June 2027, but the Norwegian striker has therefore committed to staying with the ‘Citizens’ until the end of the 2033/34 season.

“Manchester City is a special club, full of great people. I am very happy to have signed this new contract and to be here longer,” said the Norwegian player, as quoted in the press release.

Haaland joined City in 2022 and has already scored 111 goals in 126 appearances for the current English champions.

Txiki Begiristain, City’s director of football, commented on the extension: “Everyone at the club is delighted that Erling has signed his new contract.”

“The fact that he has signed for such a long period is testament to his commitment and attachment to the club; its impressive figures and statistics speak for themselves,” he added.

Pep Guardiola, City coach, described the news as “exceptional” during a press conference on Friday.

“When a player signs a contract of this nature, unprecedented, it’s because he really wants to be here. He loves the club, the people around him, the Premier League… He realizes that there is no better place for the next ten years and that is why he made this decision,” analyzed Guardiola.

– ‘Lots of rumours’ –

“There have been a lot of rumors lately and I understand that sometimes people don’t want me around,” the 1.95m giant joked in a club video.

In his first season with City, Haaland broke the Premier League goalscoring record – set in 1992 – with 36 goals, although it remains far from the all-time best mark of Dixie Dean, who scored 60 goals with Everton during the 1927-28 season.

Voted best player by the press in 2023, double top scorer in the Premier League and holder of two English championship titles, Haaland, aged 24, has established himself as one of the best players in the world. In 2023, he saw his club achieve a historic treble with the Champions League, Premier League and Cup, matching the achievement of David Beckham’s Manchester United in 1999.

Born in Leeds, where his father Alf-Inge Haaland played, who also wore the colors of City between 2000 and 2003, Erling is entering this third season under greater pressure.

The club suffered a slump at the end of 2024 with six defeats, two wins and two draws in the Premier League, as well as two defeats and a draw in the Champions League, their most difficult period since Guardiola’s arrival in 2016 During this period, Haaland has only scored five goals, a figure well below his usual average.

City are showing signs of improvement at the start of 2025 but are currently ranked sixth in the Premier League, having won the previous four editions. Haaland is “only” second in the scorer rankings with 16 goals, behind leader Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) who has 18.

In the Champions League, Guardiola’s side are ranked 22nd ahead of a crucial match at Paris Saint-Germain next week.

However, he can already count on Haaland who has scored three goals in three matches in 2025. “If he works hard, and I know he will, he will leave an incredible legacy at this club,” Begiristain added.