Manchester City announced on Tuesday afternoon that they had reached an agreement in principle for the transfer of highly sought striker Erling Haaland.
The 21-year-old Norwegian will join City from Borussia Dortmund at the beginning of July, after the Citizens activated the €60m (£51.2m) release clause in his contract.
Haaland has been linked with City for several years. Those links have intensified in recent seasons, especially after the club’s record goalscorer Sergio Aguero departed for Barcelona last year.
The Norwegian appears to be the natural successor of Aguero. He has scored 85 goals in 88 games for Dortmund since joining the German club from Red Bull Salzburg in January 2020.
City were not the only team who were after the striker either. Real Madrid and Barcelona were both said to have been in the race for his signature.
Haaland’s father, Alf-Inge, played for City between 2000 and 2003. It is thought that this has played a role in the 21-year-old’s decision. He passed his medical in Belgium on Monday, and will join up with Pep Guardiola’s side in time for the beginning of pre-season.
The structure of the deal
City appear to have got themselves a bargain. Haaland and Kylian Mbappe have long been touted as the successors to Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo due to their emphatic goalscoring tallies of late.
To get the Norwegian for a little over £50 million is something of a snip.
What’s more, reports suggest the fee is not payable upfront. Haaland will sign a contract to keep him at the Etihad Stadium for five seasons until 2027.
He will receive around £400,000 a week, the same amount as current City top-earner Kevin De Bruyne.
The release clause in the contract between Erling Haaland and Man City
Reports claim that Erling Haaland may have a £128 million release clause in his Man City contract. Spanish radio network, Cadena SER, said that Real Madrid had the opportunity to sign the striker but walked away from the deal because of the demands of Haaland’s recently deceased super-agent Mino Raiola.
City may have bowed to these demands to make the deal happen.
If they did, this release clause is reported to come into effect in the second year of the star’s contract. The high figure is likely to ward off many potential suitors, but the likes of Barcelona, Real Madrid and PSG would still have the financial power to make such a move.
Haaland could well be the final piece of the jigsaw for City. Guardiola’s side are desperate to win the Champions League. Haaland may be just what they need.
But if the rumours are to be believed, Real Madrid may come knocking again in the future.
Featured image credit: Getty
