Man City set to agree ‘mind boggling’ £1.5bn deal after Premier League settlement
Manchester City could now agree a new deal that would see them bring in £1.5billion after they reached a settlement with the Premier League.
Pep Guardiola’s side were challenging the Associated Party Transaction (APT) rules, which were limiting their ability to agree a new sponsorship deal.
The case was set to go to an independent commission, but on Monday (8 September) it was announced that the Manchester club and the Premier League had come to a settlement agreement.
This is completely separate from Man City’s 115 charges case, with a conclusion to that situation expected at the end of the year.
Everton’s former chief Keith Wyness – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – believes that with the APT case closed, the door is now open for City to agree an extremely lucrative deal.
Man City’s sponsorship deal with Etihad will go through
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, Wyness insisted that Man City will now sign off on a new £1.5bn sponsorship deal with Etihad Airways, following the settlement with the Premier League.
City first agreed a £400million contract with Etihad back in 2011, and the proposed increase, which was blocked in 2023, should now be allowed through.
Wyness added that the ‘mind-blowing’ deal makes sense in terms of numbers and explains how players like Erling Haaland are being offered such big contracts by Man City.
He told Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast: “When you look at this one, it’s mind-boggling. We go back to about 2011 when the first Etihad deal was put in place.
“Then there was a new one in 2023 that was blocked by the Premier League. Now, if you look at how those deals are calculated, there will, of course, be inflation. There will be different increments going forward in terms of performance each season.
“I had initially calculated it could go up from £400m to possibly £1bn. I’ve now had to revise that upwards, and I think it could be worth even up to £1.5bn, which would be mind-blowing in terms of the scale, but it makes sense in terms of the numbers.
“What makes the difference is that now a new benchmark has been set, and it’s a big number. That’s why they can afford to pay Erling Haaland such big numbers.”
Man City rival Liverpool for Premier League star
Meanwhile, Man City are reportedly preparing to beat Liverpool to the signing of Crystal Palace star Marc Guehi on a free transfer next summer.
That is according to former Man United and Blackburn chief scout Mick Brown, who claims that Guardiola is keen to beat his rivals to bring in the 25-year-old.
Liverpool’s deal to sign Guehi fell through on transfer deadline day after Oliver Glasner intervened to keep his captain at Selhurst Park.
With less than 12 months remaining on his contract, Europe’s top clubs are believed to have joined Arne Slot‘s side in the race for the England international’s signature.
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