Fans convinced Man City have inserted secret clause into Erling Haaland's new nine-and-a-half-year deal

Fans are convinced that Manchester City have inserted a 'secret clause' into Erling Haaland's new nine-and-a-half year contract.

City announced that the Norwegian had extended his contract on Friday morning, keeping him at the Etihad Stadium until the summer of 2034.

The deal will make Haaland the highest-paid Premier League player in history, according to TBR Football, with the 24-year-old having already been one of the division's top earners.

He now has the longest contract in English football, with former City academy graduate Cole Palmer on a deal until 2033 at Chelsea.

It also removes his previous release clause, which gives his current club even more security over his long-term future. No other clauses have been mentioned as part of the deal.

Haaland's new contract has been signed in the background of City's 115 charges over breaches of financial rules. A private hearing was held last October and was expected to deliver a verdict in March at the earliest.

The Athletic report that anonymous sources with 'knowledge of the situation' believe that, if City are found guilty of any charges, their sanction would likely extend only to a fine.

It has previously been claimed that the harshest punishment for City could theoretically be relegation from the Premier League, though there is no indication as to what exact punishment the club would receive in any scenario of a guilty verdict.

"We're going to be together for a long, long time!" 💭 pic.twitter.com/caywkVll6a

— Manchester City (@ManCity) January 17, 2025

Taking to social media, though, fans are convinced that Haaland's contract may contain a secret clause.

One wrote: "I BET there is a relegation clause somewhere in that deal."

A second said: "Might not be a release clause but there's definitely a relegation release one."

A third added: "Hope there is a relegation clause in this."

A fourth stated: "Could be a relegation clause that wasn't there before."

And a fifth asked: "Surely he has a relegation release clause?"