Erling Haaland has signed a new blockbuster contract that will keep him at Manchester City for a staggering nine and a half years.
Reported details vary but all agree that Haaland, 24, will be earning more money annually during the course of his contract – perhaps more than £875k a week including bonuses – and the well documented release clauses from the original deal that brought him to the Etihad have been removed as a sign that the lifelong City fan feels comfortable to stay at the club.
The Norwegian striker, 24, has chosen to renew with club after only two-and-a-half years at the club in which all sorts of goalscoring records have already fallen.
He started with the Treble in his first season as City lifted the Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League.
He scored 52 goals in all competitions – more than any other striker in Europe that season – and broke the record for the most Premier League goals in a single season with 36.
The records continued to tumble into his second season as the club also lifted an unprecedented fourth Premier League title in a row.
Despite being sidelined by injury for two months Haaland scored 38 goals in 45 appearances.
This season so far he has contributed 21 goals to make it 111 goals in 125 games for City since he joined.
And the contract extension signals that the stage is now set for all manner of Premier League all time records to fall as Sergio Aguero’s club record 184 Premier League goals is achievable and even Alan Shearer’s record goal tally of 260 is in range – Haaland currently has 79.
Haaland said: “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.
“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, his coaching staff, my teammates and everyone at the Club as they have all helped me so much in the past couple of years.
“They have made this such a special place to be and now I am City no matter what.
“Now I want to keep developing, keep working to get better and look to do my best to try and help us achieve more success going forward.”
Director of Football Txiki Begiristain added: “Everyone at the Club is absolutely delighted that Erling has signed his new contract.
“The fact he is signed for so long demonstrates our commitment to him as a player, and his love of this club.
“He has made an incredible impact already in his time here and his amazing numbers and records speak for themselves.
“But in addition to his outstanding natural talent and ability, Erling’s dedication, professionalism, humility and desire to keep getting better sum up what we all strive to achieve at Manchester City.
“He is one of the finest strikers in world football, but Erling is still very young and will only continue to improve working under Pep and his coaching team.
“If he works hard, which I know he will, he will create an incredible legacy at this football club.
“Now he can focus on his game and continuing to play a huge part in helping us try to achieve even more success.”