In the early morning hours of September 30 (CEST), the Premier League officially announced that Manchester City had been found guilty on hundreds of charges. British media outlet The Mirror published a detailed investigation analyzing why Manchester City, despite knowing they could face rule violations, was confident enough not to include relegation clauses in their players' contracts.

The article noted that Manchester City, despite facing the threat of a "Premier League earthquake case," continued to spend lavishly in recent transfer windows to overhaul their squad. However, Manchester City's top players have no relegation clauses in their contracts.

In January 2025, Erling Haaland signed a record nine-and-a-half-year contract with Manchester City, binding him to the club until his 34th birthday. The primary concern at that time was clearly the 115 charges. When asked whether his new contract contained an exit clause if Manchester City were found guilty, the Norwegian striker answered: "No."

Manchester City has secured its most valuable asset—arguably the world's deadliest striker—for nearly a decade, during the prime years of his career at just 26 years old.

Now, top clubs worldwide are watching Haaland's next move, ready to pounce if he suddenly becomes available on the transfer market. The same applies to many other superstars in Manchester City's squad who have brought the team such brilliant success in recent years.

However, should the worst-case scenario occur and Manchester City be found guilty and expelled from the Premier League as punishment, Haaland is not the only one without an exit clause in his contract.

Other notable players signed in the last three transfer windows also have no relegation clauses in their contracts—between July 2024 and September 2025, Manchester City spent over £300 million net on transfers.

But this raises the question: How did Manchester City negotiate these player contracts when everyone knew judgment day was approaching?

Charges for breaching Premier League financial rules were officially filed in February 2023, yet this did not stop the team from continuing to succeed or from attracting top players during this period.

Cherki, Donnarumma, Semenyo, and Guehi all arrived between 2024 and 2025, and this summer the club spent £450 million to completely overhaul their midfield, signing Enzo, Anderson, Buadi, and Ndiaye.

Argentine midfielder Enzo was determined to join Manchester City. He not only informed Chelsea of his desire to leave but made it clear that Manchester City had to be his next destination.

Anderson, meanwhile, made a direct choice between Manchester City and Manchester United, ultimately opting for Manchester City. The situations of the other players were largely similar. Guehi could have chosen any club if he had waited until summer to become a free agent, but he chose Manchester City in January. Semenyo likely also knew that Arsenal would probably come calling again if he waited patiently.

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

This clearly goes beyond the scope of a normal squad rebuild. It must include contingency plans in case the team is ultimately found guilty and faces not only relegation but also a transfer ban. However, Manchester City does not see it that way; either way, the current squad depth is extremely strong.

The key factor in persuading these players to sign was not a relegation clause, but the club's commitment to honoring all bonuses, add-ons, and performance-related payments. These bonuses are typically easy to earn. Manchester City will honor these contracts. The contracts will be legally watertight, thanks to excellent agents ensuring their clients are protected.

Another overlooked factor is the strength of Manchester City's own conviction: they are confident the club can ultimately prove its innocence. Within the club, there has always been a deeply rooted belief that they have sufficient evidence to respond to and refute the charges. This conviction is unwavering, regardless of external perceptions. In conversations with players, agents, and families, Manchester City's leadership has never shown the slightest doubt in their words, hearts, or minds. This is extremely persuasive.

Ultimately, players may not need a relegation exit clause at all. If the ultimate punishment truly comes to pass, no matter who the club's owner is, the team cannot afford the massive wage bill at Championship level, let alone League One level.

The genuine affection that stars like Haaland have for this club should not be underestimated, and the same applies to other players. But it would be naive to think players would not try to leave to play in the Champions League and compete for the most prestigious trophies. Manchester City will likely be forced to let players go; that is how the football world works.

Yet this storm, which has raged for years, has never truly dampened Manchester City's courage in attracting and securing top players, nor their determination to remain at the top at all costs.

Übersetzt von KI.

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