NO ESCAPE! - Why Man City stars signed in £700m rebuild did not insist on relegation clauses - despite 115 charges

When Erling Haaland signed a record nine-and-a-half year deal in January 2025 to keep him at Manchester City until his 34th birthday, the obvious first question was about the 115 charges.

Haaland was asked if his new deal had an escape clause should City be found guilty, the Norway striker replied: “No.”

City have locked down their biggest asset - arguably the most lethal striker in the world - for nearly a decade and the best years of his career. He is still only 26.

Every major club in the world is now watching what happens next with Haaland and be ready to pounce if he suddenly becomes available. But that also goes for the rest of City’s huge list of superstars who have helped them enjoy so much success for the past few years.

However, it is not just Haaland who does not have an escape clause should the worst happen and City are found guilty and kicked out of the Premier League as by way of punishment.

JOIN US ON FACEBOOK! Latest news, analysis and much more on Mirror Football's Facebook page

Get our comprehensive football coverage, with news, updates, opinions, analysis and everything that matters to you, straight to your inbox.

To get it, it's a quick and easy one-two:

1. Head THIS WAY

Other huge names signed in the last three transfer windows - City’s net spend has been in excess of £300m between July 2025 and September 2026 - do not have escape clauses either.

But it does beg the question: how did Manchester City negotiate deals for players with everyone knowing that the day of reckoning was coming?

The charges for breaching Premier League financial rules were lodged in February 2023 but that has not stopped the club’s success or attracting the best players in the meantime.

Rayan Cherki, Gianlugi Donnarumma, Antooine Semenyo, Marc Guehi all joined in 2025-2026, before the huge £450m outlay on an entirely new midfield this summer, including Enzo Fernandez, Elliott Anderson, Ayyoub Bouaddi, plus Iliman Ndiaye.

Argentina midfielder Fernandez had his heart set on Manchester City. Not only did he tell Chelsea he wanted to leave - but he also made it clear he wanted to go to City.

England international Anderson had a straight choice between City and Manchester United - and chose City. It was the same for other players. Guehi could have had the pick of his clubs in the summer if he had waited to be a free agent - and yet chose City in January. Semenyo probably knew Arsenal would revisit a possible deal if he had bided his time.

And if you look at the overhaul, City have completely changed their squad. From keeper (Ederson replaced by Donnarumma), a new-look defence and midfield with the likes of Kevin De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva moving on and Anderson, Fernandez and so on coming in.

Surely this is beyond a squad rebuild. There must have been some contingency planning in there in case they do get found guilty and not only face relegation but also get a transfer ban. But City do not see it like that. Either way, the squad is now incredibly well stocked.

But the key factors in persuading those players to sign was not relegation clauses but a promise to honour any bonuses, add-ons and payments based on success. Bonuses which would ordinarily be easily achievable. They will honour those contracts. The contracts will be water tight legally and that is down to a good agent to ensure his client is protected.

The other thing that people overlook is the power of City’s belief that, as a club, they will ultimately prove their innocence.

Inside the club, there has always been a genuine belief that they have enough evidence to answer the accusations and over the accusations. It is unshakeable - no matter what we think from the outside. There has never been any doubt in the words, hearts and minds of City executives when talking to players, agents and families. That is pretty persuasive.

Ultimately, players probably do not need relegation escape clauses. If the ultimate punishment comes, the club will not be able to keep that wage bill in the Championship let alone League One, no matter who owns the club.

The likes of Haaland and Co have a genuine feeling for this club. And that should not be underestimated. That will be the same for others. But it would be naive to suggest that players will not want to leave to play Champions League football and fight for the biggest trophies. City’s hand will probably be forced. That is how football works.

But the storm which has been brewing for years, never remotely affected City’s ability to attract and sign the best players to stay at the top no matter what.