On September 30, during the early morning hours in Beijing Standard Time (CEST), the Premier League officially announced that Manchester City had been found guilty of numerous alleged violations. English media outlet The Mirror published a lengthy analysis piece explaining that while Manchester City is aware of potential breaches of regulations, it believes there is no need to include relegation clauses in player contracts.

While the article addresses the threat of a case that could "shake the Premier League," it reveals that Manchester City has continued to spend heavily during recent transfer windows to bolster its squad with new players. However, Manchester City's top-tier stars have not had relegation clauses included in their contracts.

In January 2025, Haaland signed a new nine-and-a-half-year contract with Manchester City, keeping him at the club until he turns 34. The key question at the time was whether the 115 charges would be explicitly addressed. When asked whether Manchester City's new contracts would include relegation clauses in the event the club is found guilty, the Norwegian striker responded with "no."

Manchester City has secured their most valuable asset—the world's most reliable striker—for nearly a decade, protecting his best playing years as he is still only 26 years old.

Top clubs around the world are watching Haaland's next move and are prepared to act immediately should a transfer suddenly become possible. The same applies to numerous other superstars in Manchester City's squad, who have helped the club achieve outstanding success in recent years.

However, the worst-case scenario would be if Manchester City is found guilty and receives relegation as punishment from the Premier League—in which case Haaland alone would not be without a relegation clause in his contract.

Other high-profile players who have joined during the past three transfer windows also lack relegation clauses in their contracts. Between July 2025 and September 2026, Manchester City's spending exceeded £300 million.

Yet this raises a question: how has Manchester City managed to negotiate these player contracts when everyone knows the trial date is approaching?

Although the financial fair play violations were formally submitted in February 2023, they have neither prevented the club from continuing to achieve success nor stopped it from attracting top players during that period.

Cherki, Donnarumma, Semenyo, and Guehi all joined between 2025 and 2026, and this summer the club spent over £450 million to bring in Enzo Fernández, Anderson, Buoye, and Ndiaye to overhaul its midfield.

Among them, Argentine midfielder Enzo Fernández was solely focused on joining Manchester City. He notified Chelsea of his departure and made clear that Manchester City should be his next destination.

Anderson chose between Manchester City and Manchester United, ultimately selecting Manchester City. Similar situations apply to other players. Guehi could have chosen any club had he become available for a free transfer in the summer, but he chose Manchester City in January. Semenyo would have likely received another offer from Arsenal had he waited patiently.

Looking at this squad overhaul, Manchester City has completely transformed the team. They replaced the goalkeeper (Donnarumma for Ederson), rebuilt the defense and midfield, with veteran players like De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva departing while new signings like Anderson and Enzo Fernández arrived.

This clearly demonstrates something far beyond a routine squad rebuild. Should the club ultimately be found guilty and face not only relegation but also a transfer ban, it would need contingency plans. Manchester City, however, does not appear to view it that way. In any case, the club's current squad is extremely strong.

However, the key factor that enabled Manchester City to attract and sign these players was not relegation clauses but rather promises of bonuses, additional rewards, and performance-related payments that the club committed to honoring. These bonuses are typically easy to fulfill, and the club would be expected to meet them fully. The contracts would be legally binding, depending on quality legal representation for the players.

What may seem like a minor detail is Manchester City's unwavering self-belief. The club firmly believes it will ultimately prove its innocence. There has always been a strong conviction within the club that it possesses sufficient evidence to challenge and dismiss the charges. This confidence remains unshaken regardless of external opinion. In communications with players, agents, and their families, Manchester City's senior management has shown no hint of doubt. This level of conviction is remarkably powerful.

Ultimately, players may not actually need relegation clauses. If the club ultimately faces the worst-case verdict, it would struggle to retain players regardless of who owns the team—they would potentially lose their spot in the Champions League and top-tier league status.

Just as Haaland's genuine affection for the club should not be underestimated, the same applies to other players. However, it would be naive to assume these players have no desire to play in the Champions League or compete for the biggest trophies. Manchester City may be forced to let them leave—such is football.

Yet for years, this storm has not truly affected Manchester City's ability to attract top players and sign contracts, nor has it hindered their ambition to remain competitive at the highest level, no matter what happens.

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