The announcement of Erling Haaland's extraordinary new nine-year contract at Manchester City has sparked renewed intrigue around the biggest contracts in world sport.
Haaland's new contract is thought to make him Man City's highest-paid player – a position that would now also make him the highest earner in the entire league – but how would the Norwegian striker's new deal compare to other leading stars in other sporting fields?
The Haaland news comes just a month after the baseball news New York Mets signed Dominican star Juan Soto in what is believed to be the biggest deal in professional sports history – a reported extraordinary $765m (£626m) 15-year package.
ESPN reported at the time that Soto's mega deal included a $75 million signing bonus, no deferred money, a full no-trade clause and an opt-out after five years, which the Mets could get rid of by raising his salary from $51 million to $55 million over the last 10 years of the contract.
And if the Mets were to pick up that option, the deal would be worth $805 million over the life of the contract, further reducing the contract's $700 million mark. Shohei Ohtani signed with LA Dodgers in 2023
Use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Manchester City revealed Haaland's new contract in a bizarre way. Courtesy of City Studios.
What are the biggest annual and total contracts in sports?
Soto is $51 million annually the salary is not the highest in world sports, however, he states Forbes.
Cristiano Ronaldo he reportedly earns around $210 million a year Al Nasrdoc Lionel Messi's 2017 contract with Barcelona earning him a reported annual salary of $168 million.
While accurate financial data HaalandThe new contract is of course under strict secrecy, and the latest contract is better than the previous contract of the Norwegian who Sky Sports News understood to be in the region of £400,000 ($487,596) a week, which Man Cityhas the highest earnings.
That previous deal would have made the forward £20.8 million ($25.4 million) a year.
So even if we use those previous figures as a starting point and extend that to his now new nine-year tenure, Haaland's new contract is clearly worth more than £197.6 million ($241.3 million) over its entire duration.
Anything above $240 million puts Haaland's contract among the 50 most lucrative sports contracts of all time.
In other sports, the four-time world champion in F1 Max Verstappen has a reported annual salary of $60 million Red Bullwith an additional $15 million in performance-related bonuses.
Soto won't even be the highest paid player in the US, either Dak Prescott will make $60 million a year with Dallas Cowboys, doc Steph Curry is the highest paid NBA star with an annual salary of over $55 million.
But in terms of total money paid out over the course of a full contract, Soto's is far ahead of any other global sports star.
What Haaland said about his new contract
Reflecting on his new deal, Haaland said: “I'm really happy to have signed my new contract and I'm looking forward to spending even more time at this great club.
“Manchester City is a special club, full of fantastic people with amazing fans and it's the type of environment that helps bring out the best in everyone.
“I also want to thank Pep (Guardiola), his coaching staff, my teammates and everyone at the club because they've all helped me so much over the past few years. They've made this such a special place to be and now I'm a city no matter what.
“I want to keep developing, keep working to get better and do my best to try to help us achieve more success in the future.”
Use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Haaland commits his long-term future to Manchester City and says signing a new contract until 2034 was an 'easy decision'. Courtesy of City Studios
The agreement followed 'months' of negotiations
Sky Sports News reporter Ben Ransom:
“It's absolutely titanic. What a signing for Manchester City. What a moment to announce this news as well.
“They're calling it a 10-year deal because we're in the first year. It is unprecedented in terms of the length of contract Manchester City has given a player.
Use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
All angles of Haaland's audacious chip in Manchester City's 4-1 win over West Ham
“In terms of players to give to, who better than Erling Haaland? A man who has already achieved so much in his two and a half years here and scored so many goals.
“You can only begin to dream where his number could end up if he stays until 2034, when he will be 34 years old.
“He's obviously a player who loves Manchester City. He's someone who was born into a family that had a real connection to City through his father, Alfie Haaland.
“From City's point of view, it is a real pleasure that he has committed his future.”
Transfer center LIVE! Offers, rumours, news on your phone 📱
The January transfer window is here OPEN!
Follow all the latest offers, news and rumors in the 'Transfers' section The Sky Sports app!
Looking for news about YOUR club? Find specific download pages EVERY Premier League team.