Manchester City could face an extraordinary transfer window if the club is relegated. Several players are tied down for another four, five or even eight seasons, meaning City would not be forced to sell them. However, it is difficult to imagine all of the Citizens’ stars accepting a season away from the Premier League and the Champions League. Erling Haaland, Phil Foden, Josko Gvardiol and Gianluigi Donnarumma could quickly become some of the hottest names on the transfer market.
The threat hanging over Manchester City goes far beyond the sporting sanction itself. The club has been found guilty of several financial breaches and is still awaiting its punishment, with an appeal expected. A points deduction or exclusion from the Premier League are among the scenarios being discussed. According to Sport and Sky Sports, some players and their representatives are already looking into the contractual consequences of a potential sanction, particularly regarding bonuses linked to results and European qualification.
No relegation clause to release Manchester City’s stars
One point is particularly important: relegation would not automatically allow players to leave Manchester City. According to talkSPORT, City players’ contracts do not contain release clauses specifically triggered by relegation. The club would therefore theoretically retain control over its squad and could demand significant transfer fees. However, convincing established internationals to spend a season outside the English top flight and potentially without Champions League football could prove extremely difficult.
The most spectacular case would obviously be Haaland. The Norwegian signed a huge contract in January 2025 running until June 2034, meaning he would still have eight years remaining at the end of this season. Phil Foden is tied down until 2030, while Gvardiol and Jérémy Doku recently extended their deals until 2031. Sport has notably linked Barcelona and Bayern Munich with Gvardiol. Rúben Dias is under contract until 2029, while Donnarumma, Rayan Cherki, Rayan Aït-Nouri, Rico Lewis and Nico O’Reilly are reportedly committed until 2030.
On paper, Haaland, Foden, Gvardiol and Donnarumma would probably be among the most closely watched cases because of their international status and sporting value, while Doku, Dias and Cherki could also attract considerable interest. However, this sporting logic should not be confused with concrete transfer information: none of these players would automatically be placed on the market because of a possible relegation. Mateo Kovacic, whose contract reportedly expires in 2027, would be in a different situation. City could therefore face a huge decision: keep their stars in an attempt to secure immediate promotion, or sanction certain departures to reduce a massive wage bill and allow their internationals to continue playing at the highest level. If Manchester City were actually relegated from the Premier League, the future of their squad would instantly become one of the biggest stories of the European transfer market.
