Sport

Erling Haaland sets another Premier League record with new Manchester City contract

He isn't going anywhere for a long, long time.

Danny Jones Danny Jones - 17th January 2025

Manchester City striker Erling Haaland has signed a new long-term contract with the English champions and set another Premier League record in the process.

Haaland only joined City back in 2022 on a lucrative five-year deal and it took no time at all for him to hit the ground running and become a Golden Boot winner in his debut season and smash numerous records in the process, but the club are clearly looking to lock down the generational forward even further.

The prolific Scandinavian striker has already scored 111 goals in 125 games for the Blues, so it’s just common sense to tie him down for as long as they possibly can – and when we say long…

Putting pen to paper on a new nine-and-a-half-year deal revealed on Friday, 17 January, Haaland has now committed to his future at the Etihad until 2034, which is a record for the lengthiest contract in Premier League history.

Man City may have rounded up to 10 in their official announcement but either way, a seven-year extension on an existing contract which is unquestionably already one of if not the highest-paying in the division is quite the statement from both parties.

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Haaland’s new terms see him surpass former City youth product Cole Palmer, whose switch to Chelsea on a nine-year deal was already groundbreaking for the league, having signed more than half a dozen players on contracts spanning seven years in 2023.

The big Norwegian number nine – who became a boyhood Blue during his dad’s playing days at the club – is set to earn a basic wage of approximately £500,000 a week, which is thought to make him the new highest earner after teammate Kevin De Bruyne (£400k).

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This means that not only is the 24-year-old forward tacking on another seven years but also a further £125kpw reported figures are accurate.

City also shared multiple videos celebrating the news and the often humourous Haaland has certainly relished the pageantry of it all:

Reflecting on his new deal, Haaland said in an official statement: “I am really happy to have signed my new contract and to be able to look forward to spending even more time at this great Club.

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“Manchester City is a special Club, full of fantastic people with amazing supporters and it’s the type of environment that helps bring the best out of everybody.

“I also want to thank Pep, his coaching staff, my teammates and everyone at the Club as they have all helped me so much in the past couple of years. They have made this such a special place to be and now I am City no matter what.

“I want to keep developing, keep working to get better and look to do my best to try and help us achieve more success going forward.”

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Director of Football Txiki Begiristain, who is set to leave at the end of this season, added: “Everyone at the Club is absolutely delighted that Erling has signed his new contract. The fact he signed for so long demonstrates our commitment to him as a player and his love of this club. 

“He has made an incredible impact already in his time here and his amazing numbers and records speak for themselves. But in addition to his outstanding natural talent and ability, Erling’s dedication, professionalism, humility and desire to keep getting better sum up what we all strive to achieve at Manchester City.

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“He is one of the finest strikers in world football, but Erling is still very young and will only continue to improve working under Pep and his coaching team. If he works hard, which I know he will, he will create an incredible legacy at this football club.”

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Featured Images — Manchester City/Jacek Stanislawek (via Wikimedia Commons)

Sport

Manchester Half Marathon 2026 – route map, start times, travel warnings, and more

Lydia Mastrolonardo Lydia Mastrolonardo

It’s that time of year again: the ASICS Manchester Half Marathon is back this weekend and with more than 32,000 people taking part, it truly is going to be bigger and better than ever.

Taking place on Sunday 4 October, Mancs and runners from all over will be taking on the 13.1-mile challenge. Make that 21.1 kilometres if you’re metric folks like us. 

The event expects to raise £1.8 million for various well-deserving charities including Alzheimer’s Society, Cancer Research UK, The Christie, and Moya Cole Hospice. 

It’s set to be a bad day to be an empath – the event hosts thousands of runners, all with their own personal stories coming together to raise awareness and money for charities close to their hearts. 

This race never fails to draw in a city full of supportive spectators, even despite a chill being back in the air. So, remember to pack those tissues and prepare to cry for thousands of people you don’t even know. 

Being the biggest half marathon event in the region, whether you’re taking part or just cheering on from the roadside, it’s handy to have all the important details in one place.

Be it the route, hotspots for spectators, or freebies, we’ve got everything you need in this helpful guide to the 2026 ASICS Manchester Half. Let’s start off simple.

ASICS Manchester Half Marathon 2026 – all you need to know

What time does the 2026 ASICS Manchester Half start?

Those running in this year’s Manchester Half can expect to hear the starting gun from as early as 8:50am. 

The first wave of the day will be for the elite wheelchair participants, with the rest of the standard elite wave following them at 9:05am.

However, as we’re sure you’re all fully aware, the Manchester Half is broken up into waves based on predicted times. The rest of the participants will then set off in roughly 10-minute intervals, depending on their allocated bib colour, with the final group setting off at approximately 11:07 am.

You can find the full breakdown of waves and their start times HERE.

The starting line and route for the Manchester Half 2026

To access the start line on race day, participants should head to the Event Village, at the Lancashire County Cricket Club Grounds.

Here you’ll find the bag drop station, toilets for those pre-race nervous wees and poos (this is a non-judgmental space, guys – trust us and go for a ‘safety’ one), as well as the many marshals who will direct you to the starting line which is located on Talbot Road, opposite Trafford Town Hall.

The course will take runners into Manchester city centre, then back through Stretford, Sale, Chorlton-cum-Hardy and finishing back on Talbot Road before the celebrations can begin. You’ll be glad to hear the route is generally flat with no major inclines – phew.

You can find the full map for the 2026 Manchester Half Marathon route down below and click HERE for additional route information.

Manchester Half Marathon water stations, toilets and nutrition

Now, you might be thinking, “What about water stations?” or, “Where are the toilets in case there’s, you know… an emergency along the way”. Don’t worry, there’s plenty of both, as well as vital points to pick up some mid-race fuel.

There will be four water stations located roughly every three miles along the course to keep participants refreshed; there will also be ESN Hydro Gels available at the second and third water stations to give participants that extra boost if needed.

As for toilets, you’ll find them at or near each water station, as well as at the Event Village before and after the race, so you’ll have plenty of chances to grab a pit stop.

Preparation is key, as they say, so you can find out more about race day nutrition HERE and find out other ways to get your body ready now we’re into the final few days before the race.

Manchester Half Marathon road closures and travel info

As for travel advice, it’s going to be a busy weekend and so please allow extra time for any journeys. 

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As I’m sure you can imagine, this type of event does require a fair few road closures, meaning driving is strongly discouraged, to avoid missing your start time due to traffic.

Many bus services will also be diverted due to these closures, too.

Whether you live in the city centre, you’re getting the train into Piccadilly or Victoria from further afield, or you choose to Park and Ride, our recommendation would always be to use the Bee Network trams. 

The closest tram stops are Old Trafford and Trafford Bar, but they may be congested due to their close proximity to the race, so why not incorporate a gentle 15-minute walk into your pre-run warm up and get off at the quieter Imperial War Museum tram stop.

As always, we advocate for travelling as green as possible. More travel guidance is available online HERE.

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Where is best for spectators to watch the Manchester Half?

Spectators are best to encourage loved ones on from along the course, rather than just at the start and the finish area where access is limited and often overcrowded. 

There are multiple places along the course to cheer on our wonderful runners including the Asics Cheer Zone, The Bupa Stretch, ESN Fuel & Cheer Zone and cheer points from all of the Official Charity Partners.

The Deansgate Interchange would be our recommendation at the start of the day to soak up the atmosphere, where a big screen will show the live starts from the ‘Kick-Off Cam.’

Other prime viewing spots include Stretford, Sale and Chorlton around a mile before the finish. 

To see participants cross the finish line, you can get another view away from the roadside by heading inside the Lancashire County Cricket Club. Here, The Event Village is set to be the place to be, with food and drink vendors and a large screen, to show live finish line coverage throughout the day.

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Official merch and the 2026 Manchester Half medal design

Now, in case you need any extra information, we thought we’d give you a glimpse of what’s up for grabs at this year’s Manchester Half Marathon – other than glory, of course.

This year’s Finisher Tee is one of our favourites for a long time, showing the route in a black and gold design, making it the perfect keepsake to remember such a huge achievement. 

Oh yeah, and there is the obvious prize you’re all working towards: the 2026 Asics Manchester Half Marathon medal. We really love this year’s design too and we can’t wait to see you all wearing them proudly around your necks in just a few days’ time.

What else to look out for at the 2026 Asics Manchester Half Marathon?

Beyond all that, there’s also an array of activities and new experiences to get involved in over the event weekend. 

To make the most of what’s on offer, spectators can also use new interactive walking maps on the online Spectator Hub. These maps contain recommended routes for walking, stop-off points for refreshments and more transport suggestions. 

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Oh – and the hugely popular hyper-personalised bibs are back. As part of the ‘Express Yourself’ edition there are some super exciting new design options.

What post-run treats can you make the most of?

There will also be plenty of freebies and exciting activities on offer for participants.

Now the race is over, head on down to The Event Village to begin the celebrations. Here, there will be an ESN Performance Hub, ASICS Celebration Zone, Bupa Recovery Zone and Vitamin Well Victory Vault.

First up, ESN are giving out their Goat Bars over the finish line. These recovery protein bars will help to repair your muscles, allowing you to re-energize ahead of your evening plans.

Next, head on over to the Erdinger Alkoholfrei DJ zone to quench your thirst with a natural isotonic drink packed with vitamins and minerals to replenish any lost. 

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Finally, there will also be ice cold Vitamin Well drinks available in the Athlete’s village to quench your thirst and ensure you leave feeling revitalised, before collecting kudos from your peers.

Once you’ve collected your goodies, move on to the Asics Celebration Zone to get your picture taken, then visit the Bupa Recovery Zone to unwind with physiotherapists leading stretch sessions. The ESN Performance Hub will also allow supporters a chance to win exclusive products, while runners can pick up a limited number of ESN Fuel Pack goodie bags.

There’s lots to get your hands on so make the most of it before leaving the village – after all, you deserve it. 

Lastly, we wish you the best of luck for race day and just remember, there’s nothing quite like that feeling when you cross the finish line.

Now go and smash it! We’re already unbelievably proud of you all.

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Featured image: Manchester Half

Sport

Travel warning issued as tens of thousands to descend for Manchester Half Marathon

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Travel advice for the Manchester Half Marathon 2026. Credit: Manchester Half

A travel warning has been issued ahead of the Manchester Half Marathon this weekend, with tens of thousands of runners and spectators expected to arrive in the city.

People are being urged to plan their journeys ahead of time, with significant road closures in place from the city centre as far out as Sale.

Road closures – and subsequent bus diversions – will also affect parts of Stretford, Chorlton, Trafford, and surrounding areas.

Around 32,000 people are expected to take part in the Manchester Half Marathon this Sunday, with thousands more coming out to cheer the runners on.

Transport for Greater Manchester is advising people that the Bee Network trams will be the best way to get around over the weekend.

Extra trams will be operating to provide as much capacity as possible.

Road closures and bus diversions will start on Saturday 3 October and continue until the actual race day on Sunday 4 October, lifting fully by 8.30pm.

Tens of thousands of runners and spectators will descend on Manchester for the half marathon
Tens of thousands of runners and spectators will descend on Manchester for the half marathon
Tens of thousands of runners and spectators will descend on Manchester for the half marathon

Earlier this year, the Manchester Marathon led to a record-breaking day for Metrolink trams, with the highest number of passengers ever recorded on a single day in the network’s history.

Whether running or cheering, people are advised to use the Bee Network app to plan their journeys and are strongly encouraged not to drive within the affected areas.

Steve Gilholme, Head of Events at Transport for Greater Manchester, said: “The Manchester Half Marathon is another one of those special occasions where the people of Greater Manchester and beyond come together, with thousands of people taking on the challenge and raising money for good causes, while many more will line the route to cheer them on.

“This does mean the city centre and especially trams will be incredibly busy so please plan ahead and give yourself extra time to make journeys.

“The Bee Network app and website will be the best places to get the latest travel information and tap and go contactless payments are the quickest and easiest way to pay.”

You can see all the road closures for the Manchester Half Marathon HERE.

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Featured image: Manchester Half

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