So, Manchester City have signed Erling Haaland, and it’s fair to say that the rest of the Premier League are quaking in their boots.
The Norwegian is one of the most potent strikers on the planet, and in Pep Guardiola’s free-flowing attacking outfit, there’s reason to believe he could hit ridiculous heights.
Of course, everyone wants to know how Haaland will get on at Manchester City, so, using Football Manager 2022, we’ve had a go at simulating the Norwegian’s Manchester City career.
Erling Haaland at Manchester City
We’ve not gone as far as to simulate the rest of Haaland’s career. After all, he may not stay at City until he retires – he’s already being linked with his next move!
However, with Haaland set to sign a five-year deal, we’ve attempted to simulate five seasons of Haaland at City, and it’s fair to say the results are staggering.
Just look at those stats. Football Manager predicts that Haaland will decimate Mohamed Salah’s record of 32 goals in a Premier League season in his very first campaign, and that’s just the start.
Indeed, according to our virtual simulation, Haaland is set to smash in a whopping 47 goals in season two, despite playing just 34 matches in that period.
That’s followed up by an even more ridiculous 46 in 31, before tallies of 38 and 43 in seasons where he was an ever-present.
Somewhat surprisingly, Haaland didn’t sweep the Golden Boot every year on our simulation. Indeed, despite scoring 38 goals in 2025/26, he was pipped to the Golden Boot by Aleksandar Mitrovic due to the fact the Serbian made three fewer appearances.
However, that’s just the Premier League, Haaland’s stats in all competitions are equally as insane.
In all competitions, Haaland hit 296 goals in 262 games, making him by far and away Manchester City’s all-time top goalscorer.
However, the records don’t stop there.
The ex-Borussia Dortmund man set records for the most goals in a season, most goals by any City player ever and the most goals in a single game for Manchester City as he hit seven past Crystal Palace in an FA Cup Quarter-Final.
Speaking of silverware, how did Manchester City get on in the Premier League with Erling Haaland leading the line?
Despite signing Haaland, our simulation doesn’t seem to think that City will win any of the next three Premier League titles, before winning back-to-back Premier League’s in 2026 and 2027.
However, that’s not the prize City are signing Haaland to win…
Finally, according to Football Manager, Manchester City are finally going to end their long wait for a Champions League triumph in Haaland’s debut season at the Etihad Stadium, gaining revenge over Chelsea after their 2021 defeat.
Two Premier League titles and one Champions League in five years for Manchester City isn’t the greatest trophy haul you’re likely to ever see, but with Haaland netting 296 goals in 262 games, it’s fair to say that this could be a very fruitful spell for the Norwegian.
Understandably, after absolutely dominating the Premier League and Europe for years, Haaland has won five Ballon d’Ors in five years.
In our simulation, Haaland is by far and away the best footballer on the planet, and if he’s even half as good as his virtual counterpart in real life, City will have an absolute gem on their hands.
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