The transfer saga of football superstar Erling Haaland looks to finally be coming to an end after reports emerged Manchester City will pay the huge $AUD111 million release clause for the striker.
Step aside, Cristiano Ronaldo.
There’s an emerging 21-year-old sensation in Europe that’s set to completely break football’s economy and somewhat diminish Ronaldo and Kevin De Bruyne’s mega deals.
Erling Haaland is set to sign an enormous five year contract with Manchester City, worth an incredible $884k a week.
For context, the deal would make Haaland the highest paid player in the Premier League. Ronaldo and De Bruyne both rake in $682k per week… incredibly, just three-quarters of Haaland’s projected earnings.
With Haaland demanding such a huge wage, only a small number of elite European clubs can afford his services.
Real Madrid and PSG were rumoured to be interested in the Borussia Dortmund striker, however Manchester City appear now to be the front runner.
So who exactly is Erling Haaland and why is he so in demand in world football?
1/ He’s UK-born, but Norwegian
Haaland was born in Leeds and is the son of former Nottingham Forest, Leeds United and Manchester City player Alf-Inge Haaland.
At an early age, Haaland moved to Bryne, his parents’ home town in Norway.
Haaland joined the Bryne football academy at the age of five and progressed through the youth ranks at the club.
2/ Haaland debuted at 16 with Molde FK
Haaland signed with Molde FK in Norway and made his debut as a 16-year-old.
During his first season, he scored four goals in twenty appearances for the club.
Haaland then dominated in the 2018 season and he received the Breakthrough of the Year award and finished as Molde’s top goalscorer, scoring sixteen goals in thirty matches across all competitions.
3/ Austrian champs Red Bull Salzburg signed him as an 18-year-old
After his 16-goal season with Molde FK, Austrian Bundesliga champions Red Bull Salzburg signed Haaland on a five-year contract.
By 18, he was already considered one of the best young strikers in Europe, scoring hat-trick in his Champions League debut.
Haaland scored 28 times and registered seven assists in just 22 games for Salzburg, with eight goals in six Champions League matches.
4/ Borussia Dortmund paid a hefty release bill, bringing Haaland to Germany
In December 2019, Haaland signed for Borussia Dortmund on a four-and-a-half year deal after the club paid the $30m release clause.
On his league debut, Haaland scored a hat-trick and he finished the 2019-20 season with 16 goals in 18 appearances across all competitions.
Last season Haaland was a goal-scoring machine, netting 41 in all competitions, including 27 in the league.
This season, Haaland has been in outstanding form with 25 goals in only 26 appearances.
5/ Haaland also already has an International hat-trick with Norway
Haaland made his international debut in September 2019.
A year later, he scored his first international hat-trick as Norway beat Romania 4-0 in the UEFA Nations League.
