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The consequences of Manchester City's comprehensive guilty ruling could result in the club being removed from the Premier League altogether, leaving Erling Haaland and teammates in an extremely vulnerable situation.
The Premier League confirmed City were found guilty of violating the competition's financial rules across the 2009–10 through 2017–18 seasons. The club orchestrated fraudulent contracts and arrangements to artificially boost revenue and cut costs by £900 million ($1.2 billion).
City insist they are innocent and intend to appeal, but a further defeat in court could expose the 10-time English champions to hefty fines, points deductions, a transfer ban, and even demotion from the top flight.
The futures of City's top players are now shrouded in uncertainty, potentially compounded by contractual oversights. According to The Athletic's David Ornstein, City players do not have relegation clauses written into their contracts.
Relegation was "never anywhere near on the agenda" for City, a side that has not finished outside the top four in 16 years. Furthermore, the charges against City were reportedly "not discussed in contract negotiations" with new arrivals or during extensions, as the club was confident of being cleared.
What Such Contract Oversights Mean for City's Players
A relegation clause in a player's contract is designed to safeguard the player in the event their club is demoted. It enables another club to acquire the player at a reduced price.
Without such clauses in the players' contracts, interested clubs would be required to pay the full market value for any player. There would be little chance of landing a City player at a bargain price if there is no contractual requirement for City to lower their transfer fees or release clauses.
A player like Haaland, for instance, would remain contractually bound to City until his deal runs out in 2034, unless another club reaches an agreement to purchase the striker, who is valued by Transfermarkt at €220 million ($249.4 million).
Haaland will have no shortage of interested parties, but other players may struggle to attract offers without the appeal of a discounted fee. It could also restrict the options available to City stars, who would only be able to move to clubs willing to pay the full asking price.
It could also extend a player's time at City. Even in the event of relegation, players would remain tied to the club until a new agreement is reached. Without a relegation clause offering a swift route out, players would need to undergo full negotiations before potentially returning to top-flight football.