Manchester City believe they can clear their name despite being found guilty of numerous charges by the Premier League, according to an analysis by The Mirror.
The league announced its findings in the early hours of 30 September (CEST), raising the prospect of severe sporting penalties. Yet City have continued to spend heavily in recent transfer windows, rebuilding their squad while offering leading players contracts without clauses allowing them to leave if the club is relegated.
Erling Haaland’s nine-and-a-half-year deal, signed in January 2025, is the clearest example. The contract is intended to keep the Norwegian at City until his 34th birthday and secure the prime years of a striker who is now 26.
When Haaland was asked whether the agreement included a release clause in the event of City being found guilty, he replied: “No.”
That decision is significant given the interest in Haaland from leading clubs around the world. Many would be ready to move for him if he suddenly became available, while several of City’s other star players would also attract immediate attention.
The same approach has been taken with players recruited during the past three transfer windows. City’s net spending between July 2024 and September 2025 exceeded £300m, while the club spent £450m this summer on a major midfield rebuild involving Enzo, Anderson, Boualdi and Ndiaye.
Cherki, Donnarumma, Semenyo and Guehi also joined between 2024 and 2025. Enzo was determined to move to City, telling Chelsea he wanted to leave and making clear that City was his preferred destination.
Anderson had to choose between City and Man United before opting for City. Guehi could have waited until the summer to become a free agent and selected from a wider range of clubs, but instead joined City in January. Semenyo may also have attracted interest from Arsenal had he delayed his move.
The scale of the changes has extended across the squad. Donnarumma replaced Ederson in goal, the defence was reshaped and the midfield was overhauled as experienced players including De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva departed and new arrivals such as Anderson and Enzo came in.
The Mirror says the recruitment appears to account for the possibility of both relegation and a transfer ban, although City view the squad’s depth as a strength rather than simply an insurance policy.
The key reassurance offered to players and their representatives was not a relegation release clause, but a commitment to honour bonuses, add-ons and performance-related payments. Those terms are generally attainable, while strong legal agreements and experienced agents are intended to protect the players.
City’s confidence has also been central. The club has consistently maintained that it possesses sufficient evidence to answer and refute the allegations. In discussions with players, agents and families, the hierarchy has shown no apparent doubt in its ability to prove the club’s innocence.
If the most severe punishment were imposed, players might eventually have to leave regardless of the contracts. City could not sustain a Premier League-level wage bill in the Championship, let alone League One, and players would want to continue playing in the Champions League and competing for major trophies.
Even so, the long-running case has not prevented City from attracting elite players or pursuing their ambition to remain at the top.
