Erling Haaland answers Man City charges question: ‘I played for Bryne U9s’

Erling Haaland responded to questions about Manchester City’s financial-rule breaches by tracing his career back to Bryne’s under-nines, before pointing to his long-term contract as evidence of his commitment to the club.

The striker was speaking to Norwegian broadcaster TV 2 after Norway’s 3-1 win over Wales at Ullevaal on Saturday night, in which he scored one goal and set up another. His initial answer lasted two minutes and 14 seconds, according to VG.

The quotes below are English translations of his Norwegian answer, as reported by the Manchester Evening News and checked against VG and NRK.

Erling Haaland on the Man City charges: ‘Shall we continue?’

“The investigation covered 2009 to 2018,” Haaland said. “In 2009, I played for Bryne U9s. In 2010, the U10s; in 2011, the U11s; 2012, the U12s; 2013, the U13s. Shall we continue?”

He carried on through his time in Bryne’s senior teams, his move to Molde in 2017 and his time there in 2018.

“So this is a question I struggle to answer because it’s a legal battle,” he said. “It’s a case between the Premier League and Manchester City that a panel will deal with. Am I supposed to answer that? I’m not really sure.”

He also named several Norwegians who were at City during those years, before adding: “I haven’t read much about it.”

‘I’m a City player, and I’m incredibly happy there’

Asked about his future, Haaland pointed to his contract.

“To be completely honest, I’m focused on trying to perform for Manchester City,” he said. “A club I signed a five-year deal with in 2022 and a new nine-and-a-half-year deal in late 2024. I think that says everything about the matter. I’m a City player, and I’m incredibly happy there.”

His nine-and-a-half-year contract was announced in January 2025.

When the TV 2 reporter pressed him again, Haaland said: “I understand that you want a little headline here, but as I said, I signed a long-term contract in 2024. I’d say I made a pretty good choice by joining City in 2022. We can all agree on that.”

He then told the reporter to look at the trophies he has won and how he has developed on and off the pitch.

Solbakken and Bellamy react

Norway boss Ståle Solbakken praised Haaland’s willingness to answer, saying it “commands respect”, in comments translated from Norwegian. According to VG, Solbakken also said that other City players had not done the same.

Wales boss Craig Bellamy, who was at City in 2009, said it was “very unfair” to ask Haaland about his club while he was on international duty. He added that players should be asked about their country when they are representing it.

Where the Man City case stands

On 29 September, an independent commission upheld all of the Premier League’s charges relating to City’s finances between 2009/10 and 2017/18, the Premier League said. It also upheld three of the four charges that City failed to co-operate with the league’s subsequent investigation, which is why it is widely reported as 114 of the 115 charges.

City deny wrongdoing and lodged an appeal on 1 October. The Financial Times reports that the appeal will be heard in mid-December, with any sanctions to follow next year if it fails. No hearing date has been officially announced.

We covered that timeline in our Man City appeal date story, and what could happen next in our Man City sanctions explainer.

What comes next

Haaland’s comments set out his current position. His future will become clearer once the appeal and any sanctions are decided. Norway play Denmark on Tuesday, before Haaland returns to City.

For more, head to our football news hub.

Erling Haaland: FAQ

What did Erling Haaland say about the Man City charges?
He pointed out that the case covers 2009 to 2018, when he was playing youth and then senior football in Norway, and said it is a legal matter he struggles to answer.

What did Haaland say about his Man City future?
He said he is “incredibly happy” at City and pointed to his nine-and-a-half-year contract.

When is Man City’s appeal?
The Financial Times reports it will be heard in mid-December. No date has been officially announced.