In the early hours of September 30 (CEST), the Premier League officially announced that Man City had been found guilty of numerous charges. The English media outlet The Mirror published a lengthy special column analyzing why Man City, despite knowing they might be in violation of rules, had the confidence not to include relegation clauses in players' contracts.

The article stated that despite facing the threat of an "earthquake-level Premier League case," Man City has continued to spend lavishly in recent transfer windows to rejuvenate their squad. However, Man City's top stars do not have relegation clauses in their contracts.

In January 2025, Erling Haaland signed a record-breaking nine-and-a-half-year contract with Man City, which will keep him at the club until his 34th birthday. At the time, the primary concern clearly pointed to the 115 charges. When asked if there was a release clause in his new contract should Man City be found guilty, the Norwegian striker replied, "No."

Man City has secured their most valuable asset – arguably the world's most lethal striker – for nearly a decade, covering the prime years of his career. He is only 26 years old now.

Currently, all top clubs worldwide are monitoring Haaland's next move, ready to act immediately should he suddenly become available for transfer. The same applies to many other superstars in the Man City squad who have helped the team achieve such brilliant success in recent years.

However, if the worst-case scenario occurs and Man City is found guilty and expelled from the Premier League as punishment, Haaland is not the only one whose contract lacks a release clause.

Other big-name players who joined in the last three transfer windows also do not have release clauses in their contracts. Between July 2024 and September 2025, Man City's net spending exceeded £300 million.

But this raises the question: everyone knew the day of reckoning was approaching, so how did Man City manage to negotiate these player contracts?

Accusations of violating Premier League financial rules were formally made in February 2023, but this did not stop the team from continuing to succeed, nor did it hinder them from attracting top players during this period.

Cherki, Donnarumma, Semenyo, and Guehi all joined between 2024 and 2025, and this summer, the team spent a massive £450 million to completely restructure the midfield, bringing in Enzo, Anderson, Boualdi, and Ndiaye.

Among them, Argentine midfielder Enzo was determined to join Man City. He not only informed Chelsea of his desire to leave but also made it clear that Man City was his only destination.

Anderson, on the other hand, had to choose between Man City and Man United, and he ultimately chose Man City. The situations of other players were largely similar. Guehi could have chosen any destination if he had waited until the summer to become a free agent, but he opted for Man City in January. Semenyo likely also knew that Arsenal would be interested in him if he waited.

Looking at this major squad overhaul, Man City has completely transformed the team. The goalkeeper position (Ederson replaced by Donnarumma), defense, and midfield have all been revamped, with veterans like De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva leaving and new signings like Anderson and Enzo arriving.

This clearly goes beyond the scope of ordinary squad rebuilding. It must include contingency plans in case the team is ultimately found guilty, facing not only relegation but also a transfer ban. Yet Man City does not see it that way; regardless, the team's current squad depth is extremely strong.

However, the key factor in persuading these players to sign was not relegation clauses, but the team's promise to honour all bonuses, add-ons, and performance-related payments. These bonuses are usually easy to obtain, and the club has committed to fulfilling these contracts. The contracts are legally watertight, and this relies on excellent agents to ensure their clients are protected.

Another overlooked factor is the strength of Man City's own conviction: they firmly believe the club can ultimately prove its innocence. Within the club, there has always been a steadfast belief that they possess enough evidence to respond to and refute the allegations. This conviction remains unshaken regardless of external perceptions. In communications with players, agents, and families, Man City's hierarchy has never shown the slightest hint of doubt. This is extremely convincing.

Ultimately, players may not need relegation release clauses at all. If the ultimate punishment truly comes, regardless of who owns the club, the team cannot afford a wage bill at Championship level, let alone League One.

The genuine affection that stars like Haaland have for this club should not be underestimated, and the same goes for other players. But it would be naive to think that players would not seek to leave to play in the Champions League and compete for the most prestigious trophies. Man City would likely be forced to let them go – that's how football works.

But this storm, brewing for years, has never truly affected Man City's ability to attract and sign top players or their determination to remain at the pinnacle no matter what.

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