Erling Haaland’s Monumental Contract: A Look at Soccer’s Longest Deals
In the world of soccer, contracts can be as thrilling as the matches themselves, especially when they involve players like Erling Haaland. The Norwegian sensation has just inked a lucrative new 9½-year contract with Manchester City, keeping him at the club until 2034. This deal is poised to be one of the most lucrative in soccer history, though the exact figures remain under wraps. At just 24, Haaland has already netted 111 goals in 126 games for City, making this a potentially career-defining move.
While Haaland’s deal is making headlines, he’s not the first, nor will he be the last, to sign such a lengthy contract. Let’s take a stroll down memory lane and explore some of the most significant long-term contracts in European soccer and how they panned out.
Oihan Sancet and Dani Vivian (Athletic Club), 8 years
Athletic Club is known for its unique transfer policy, which restricts them to signing players with ties to the Basque region of Spain. This has led them to offer long-term deals to key players like Oihan Sancet and Dani Vivian. Both players are crucial to the squad and seem to be living up to their 2032 commitments.
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Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal), 8 years
Back in 2006, Cesc Fabregas signed an eight-year contract with Arsenal. Arsene Wenger had high hopes for the young Spanish midfielder, envisioning him as the cornerstone of his post-Invincibles team. Fabregas delivered five solid years before the allure of Barcelona proved too strong, leading to his departure in 2011. Although his time at Barcelona didn’t quite hit the mark, his Arsenal years were memorable.
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Mykhailo Mudryk (Chelsea), 8½ years
Chelsea is no stranger to long contracts, with nine of the top 12 longest active contracts in world football. Mykhailo Mudryk joined the Blues in January 2023, after a €70m transfer from Shakhtar Donetsk. Despite initial hopes of joining Arsenal, the lucrative 8½-year deal from Chelsea was too tempting to resist. However, Mudryk has struggled to make an impact, and his situation worsened with a provisional suspension by the FA over a drug test issue.
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Enzo Fernández, Cole Palmer, Nicolas Jackson (Chelsea), 9 years
Chelsea’s penchant for long contracts continued with Enzo Fernández, Cole Palmer, and Nicolas Jackson. Palmer, a former Manchester City player, quickly became a fan favorite, scoring 25 goals in his debut season. Fernández, the most expensive player in British football history, had a slow start but has shown improvement. Jackson, too, has found his stride after an initial eight-year deal was extended by two more years.
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Lionel Messi (Barcelona), 9 years
During his illustrious career at Barcelona, Lionel Messi signed nine contracts, the longest being a nine-year deal in 2005. This contract, signed shortly after his first-team breakthrough, saw Messi double his wages. Barcelona certainly got their money’s worth as Messi ascended to legendary status.
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Saul Niguez and Koke (Atletico Madrid), 9 years
Saul Niguez became a key figure in Atletico Madrid‘s midfield, earning a nine-year deal in 2017. However, a fallout with manager Diego Simeone led to loan spells at Chelsea and Sevilla, where he is likely to sign permanently. Meanwhile, Koke extended his contract to 2025 and remains a vital part of Atletico’s squad.
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Inaki Williams (Athletic Club), 9 years
Inaki Williams signed a nine-year deal with Athletic Club in 2019, potentially keeping him at San Mames for his entire career. Any club interested in Williams would need to meet his €135m release clause.
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Denilson (Real Betis), 10 years
In a precursor to today’s mega deals, Denilson became the world’s most expensive player when Real Betis paid €30m for him after the 1998 World Cup. The Brazilian winger signed a 10-year contract but struggled to deliver, leaving LaLiga for Bordeaux after six years with just seven goals.
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Andres Iniesta (Barcelona), Lifetime
In 2017, Barcelona offered Andres Iniesta a “lifetime contract” to honor his service. However, just six months later, Iniesta moved to Vissel Kobe in Japan, leaving Barcelona to wonder if the contract was merely symbolic.
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Iker Casillas and Raul (Real Madrid), Lifetime
Real Madrid offered “contracts for the rest of their sporting lives” to Iker Casillas and Raul in 2008. Casillas’ nine-year deal and Raul’s extended contract included a clause for automatic renewal based on appearances. Both players spent their best years at Madrid but left before their contracts ended, making the gesture somewhat moot.
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Originally Written by: Chris Wright
