Manchester City has confirmed that Erling Haaland has signed a new contract, extending his stay with the club until the end of the 2033-34 season. The Norwegian striker’s previous agreement was set to expire in June 2027, but he has now pledged his long-term future to the Premier League champions.

The announcement was made through the club’s X (formerly Twitter) account, which stated: “Erling’s here to stay! We’re thrilled to announce Erling Haaland has extended his contract at City to 2034.”

A Stellar Start to Life at City

Haaland joined Manchester City from Borussia Dortmund in the summer of 2022 and immediately made a significant impact. During his debut season, he scored an astonishing 52 goals across all competitions, playing a pivotal role in City’s historic treble-winning campaign, which included triumphs in the Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League. He followed this remarkable debut with another prolific season, netting 38 goals as City claimed a fourth consecutive league title.

Reflecting on his new contract, Haaland expressed his delight: “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 place, filled with incredible people and amazing supporters. It’s the perfect environment to bring out the best in everyone.”

The 24-year-old also extended his gratitude to manager Pep Guardiola, his coaching staff, and his teammates, stating: “They’ve all played a huge role in making my time here so special. I am City, no matter what.”

A Boost Amid Challenges

Haaland’s contract extension is a significant morale boost for Manchester City, especially during a season where they have faced unexpected struggles on the pitch. The club currently sits sixth in the Premier League table, trailing leaders Liverpool by 12 points. Haaland’s decision to commit his future comes at a critical time when City is also awaiting the outcome of an independent disciplinary case concerning over 100 alleged breaches of Premier League financial regulations—charges the club has consistently denied.

Outgoing director of football, Txiki Begiristain, hailed the contract extension, saying: “Everyone at the club is overjoyed that Erling has signed this new deal. His commitment reflects both our faith in him and his love for Manchester City. His achievements so far have been extraordinary, and his professionalism, humility, and dedication set a standard for all.”

Aiming for Records and Legacy

With this extended tenure, Haaland has a golden opportunity to chase down some of football’s most prestigious records, including Alan Shearer’s all-time Premier League scoring record of 260 goals. Haaland has already accumulated 79 Premier League goals in just 87 games and boasts a total of 111 goals in 126 matches for Manchester City in all competitions.

Begiristain added: “Under Pep’s guidance, Erling will continue to grow and achieve even more. He has the potential to create an incredible legacy here, and this long-term commitment allows him to focus entirely on his football and helping us reach new heights.”

A Busy Transfer Window

The announcement of Haaland’s renewal coincided with reports that Manchester City has reached a verbal agreement to sign Omar Marmoush from Eintracht Frankfurt. The Egyptian forward, who has been in sensational form with 20 goals in 26 appearances this season, is expected to add versatility and depth to City’s attack.

The Longest Contract in European Football

Haaland’s new deal, reportedly worth £500,000 per week, is among the longest active contracts in European football. It eliminates a release clause included in his original agreement and positions Haaland to cement his status as one of the game’s all-time greats. Long-term contracts of this nature are rare in football but are more commonly seen in American sports.

As Haaland continues to shine on the pitch, his extended commitment provides Manchester City with a stable foundation for sustained success in the years to come.

Manchester City’s Premier League clash with Brentford should have ended in a comfortable victory, but the team’s inability to capitalize on key moments led to a disappointing result.

Despite Phil Foden’s two second-half goals giving the Blues a commanding lead, late strikes from Yoane Wissa and Christian Norgaard saw City squander their advantage. The 2-2 draw leaves Guardiola’s side sitting in sixth place as they continue their push for a top-four finish.

Reflecting on the match, Guardiola pointed to missed opportunities in front of goal as the primary reason for the dropped points. He emphasized that better decision-making in crucial moments could have avoided the late setback.

“At 2-0, we didn’t manage the game well,” Guardiola admitted. “At 2-1, we handled it better, but sometimes these things happen. For example, [James] McAtee took a shot when perhaps an extra pass would have sealed the game. However, he had to try to score the third.”

Guardiola acknowledged Brentford’s quality and resilience, praising their performance. “They had chances as well; their strikers are very talented. Credit to them. Brentford is a tough opponent, both here and at our stadium. They play honestly and give everything.”

Despite creating numerous opportunities, City failed to secure the win. Guardiola highlighted the need for his team to control games more effectively, particularly when holding a lead. “At 0-2, you have to close the game. We don’t have specific players to defend the result in the box, so we need to do it by keeping possession.”

Fatigue also played a role in the closing stages, with the manager acknowledging the physical demands of the match. “Fatigue is normal. Against a team like Brentford, especially in the final 15 minutes, it’s expected. But I have no regrets. The players gave their all. We need to continue and focus on the next game.”

Guardiola also highlighted moments where better decision-making could have made a difference. “Savinho had a chance to pass to Erling [Haaland] in a one-on-one situation, and we missed opportunities to make the right decisions in the final third. Matheus [Nunes] in the first half, Erling, Savinho, and Phil all had moments where we could have done better.”

The result serves as a reminder for City to improve their finishing and game management as they look to climb the Premier League table. Guardiola remains optimistic, urging his team to learn from the experience and push forward in their campaign.

Kyle Walker’s potential departure from Manchester City has sent ripples through the football world, with Pep Guardiola confirming the defender’s desire to explore opportunities abroad.

Speculation about Walker’s future has persisted for over a year, with the 34-year-old previously linked to Bayern Munich. Guardiola revealed on Saturday that Walker has once again expressed interest in moving on.

The England international was notably absent from City’s squad during their emphatic 8-0 FA Cup victory over Salford City. Speaking after the match, Guardiola addressed Walker’s situation:

“Two days ago, Kyle came to me and said he wanted to explore options overseas. He mentioned this two years ago as well, after our Treble-winning season, but the offer from Bayern Munich at the time wasn’t satisfactory,” Guardiola explained.

“Kyle has been integral to our success over the years. Imagining what we’ve achieved without him is impossible. However, I believe that for a player to perform at their best, their mind and heart must be fully committed to the club. While I respect his decision, we’ll have to see what unfolds.”

Walker’s next destination remains uncertain, though reports link him with Italian clubs Inter Milan and AC Milan, as well as interest from the Saudi Pro League. Guardiola reiterated his reluctance to lose the experienced full-back but acknowledged City’s policy of allowing players to explore their options.

The Search for Walker’s Replacement
Should Walker leave, City will need a capable replacement at right-back. While Rico Lewis has shown promise, Guardiola will likely want more competition in the position. Using Macro Football’s player impact analytics, a surprising name has emerged as an ideal fit for Walker’s role: Manchester United’s Noussair Mazraoui.

Mazraoui, who joined United from Bayern Munich for a modest £17 million, boasts a 95.8% similarity rating to Walker’s playing style. Despite United’s overall struggles this season, the 27-year-old has been a standout performer, quickly adapting to life in the Premier League. His signing appears to be a missed opportunity for City, especially as Walker’s future remains in flux.

Other Potential Replacements
Among the other players closely matching Walker’s characteristics are his City teammate Josko Gvardiol and Napoli’s Giovanni Di Lorenzo. However, Di Lorenzo’s age (31) and Napoli’s ongoing Serie A title chase make him an unlikely candidate for a mid-season transfer.

City have already been active in the January transfer market, securing Lens defender Abdukodir Khusanov and engaging in talks for Brazilian prospect Vitor Reis. Additionally, they are pursuing Eintracht Frankfurt forward Omar Marmoush, further underscoring their proactive approach to squad building.

As Walker contemplates his next move, City’s preparations for life without their long-serving right-back are underway. Whether they look to internal solutions or venture into the transfer market remains to be seen, but the task of replacing a player of Walker’s caliber will undoubtedly be a significant challenge.