Manchester City's 114 financial fair play charges have cast a long shadow, but the idea of a sudden player exodus is wide of the mark. With no release clauses in any contracts, the stars are going nowhere unless the club says so.
The charges, first announced in 2023, have been a cloud over the Etihad ever since. A punishment decision is still pending, and an appeal will follow. But for the squad, the legal wrangling is background noise. None of them have a get-out clause that would let them walk away if the worst happens.
That's a crucial detail. For players who joined before the charges were announced, like Erling Haaland, the argument to leave is weaker. They didn't know about the investigation when they signed. Haaland, tied to the club until 2034, is going nowhere in a hurry. The same goes for Jeremy Doku, contracted until 2031.
For those who arrived after 2023, the picture is different. Elliot Anderson, for example, knew all about the charges and still chose to sign. That undermines any claim of being misled.
Then there's the group signed through 2028 or so. They're simply stuck. No clause, no escape. The club holds all the cards.
So while the football world speculates about a fire sale, the reality is more mundane. City's squad is locked in, and any departures will be on the club's terms.