Manchester City guilty verdict plunges squad into uncertainty as players weigh futures amid relegation threat
Verdict confirmed as City await sanctions
On Tuesday, an independent commission confirmed Manchester City have been found guilty of all charges relating to breaches of the Premier League's financial regulations between the 2009-10 and 2017-18 seasons, the vast majority of the 115 charges levelled at the club. City, who have won all five of their Premier League games this season, have repeatedly denied guilt.
Their potential punishment has been debated, the future of the owners questioned and the feelings of the rest of the league and wider football world aired. But, as BBC Sport notes, there has been little focus on what the judgement means for one crucial group: the current squad.
Player retention: concern but no easy exit
The general assumption is that any demotion down the leagues would trigger a mass exodus. Given the squad is brimming with international talent whose profiles and personal sponsorship agreements benefit from playing in the Premier League, it would be understandable if players considered their futures at the Etihad Stadium.
Reactions among current squad members vary. From conversations with sources close to the first team, BBC Sport reports a significant level of concern over how players will be affected. Given the scathing tone of the Premier League's statement on Tuesday, there is major scepticism from people close to the players that the forthcoming appeals will earn the club any reprieve. But others absolutely believe in City executives Khaldoon Al Mubarak and Ferran Soriano's vows to prove the club's innocence.
For those players who decide they do not want to drop down the divisions, leaving is unlikely to be straightforward. City retain the right to demand transfer fees, and as BBC Sport understands, the majority of players do not have relegation clauses in their contracts. It is also understood their contracts are fully guaranteed, meaning they would not be required to take percentage pay cuts if they lose top-flight status.
With one of the highest wage bills in the world, maintaining that salary expenditure without Premier League-level income will become harder. Parachute money could ease those concerns, although there are no guarantees the club would be entitled to those payments if demoted. As a result, City keeping the entire squad intact should they move down the leagues appears unlikely.
City are unlikely to act as a distressed seller. "They still hold strong control of the situation regardless of how their players may feel. It is unlikely the club will just simply roll over and let disillusioned players depart without suitable offers because, ultimately, they can ride the storm financially," the report states. Players also face big decisions: City are big payers, and other clubs may not meet similar wage demands. "Some players want medals, all players want money," one agent told BBC Sport.
Contract renewals on hold
In terms of potential renewals, the uncertainty over sanctions adds major risk. Amending a contract retrospectively, for example to insert a relegation clause, generally cannot happen; any exit strategies for players if the club fall out of the Premier League would have to be negotiated as new contracts. Players will likely want to wait for clarity before entering talks.
One way to persuade a player to renew would be a significant financial incentive to negate relegation risk, but several agents believe players will be advised to wait for clarity on punishments before opening discussions. Thankfully for City, only Mateo Kovacic, Matheus Nunes, Marcus Bettinelli and Geronimo Rulli have contracts expiring in the next two summers, so the issue is less urgent than it could have been.
City's contract challenges coincide with Fifa preparing to introduce new rules stating every deal signed on 1 January 2027 or after must include a release clause.
Transfers and academy prospects
The looming punishment complicates City's transfer plans. "This isn't the players' failing, it's on the club. Potential new signings aren't even in the building and joining City without knowing what the punishment would be represents an undeniable risk, so any new contracts would have to have indemnities," said one leading agent.
Writing eventualities into new registrations is difficult, though City players do have release clauses should the club enter administration. Until a post-appeal verdict over sanctions is made, new signings will be more complicated, though they should still attract big players given their financial muscle. One method would be offering a lucrative contract with no pay decreases if relegated, plus a fixed-fee release clause if City fail to return to the top flight within a set period.
If sanctions ensure relegation with further multi-season points deductions, attracting top players will be far harder, and interest from elite European clubs in City's current stars will be difficult to fend off. A transfer embargo as a sanction would prevent any signings at all, forcing a rebuild built partly on promoting academy players.
Earlier context
Reporting on 28 September had City coming out swinging after leaked guilty verdicts, with chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak vowing to prove the club's innocence as fines, points deductions and even relegation were mooted as possible punishments. On 2 October, barrister Paul Gilroy KC was reported as saying City players could be entitled to tear up their contracts following the verdict, while rival clubs were reported to be considering action.