…Units of that size at the branded project alongside the Yas Canal have a typical price of AED 10.7 million
Manchester City striker Erling Haaland has snapped up a villa at the team’s first branded residential project—a waterfront development in Abu Dhabi.
Haaland, 26, who plays for Manchester City—and became an internet sensation during the World Cup as a player for the Norwegian national team—shared the news in a video message shown at the second-phase launch of the Manchester City Yas Residences by Ohana.
The developer confirmed his acquisition in a news release Monday, describing the property as “a five-bedroom villa for his family.”
Though they didn’t disclose the price of the home, five-bedroom villas at the development have an average price of AED 10.7 million (US$2.9 million), according to Ohana.
Haaland reportedly earns a weekly base salary of £525,000 (US$693,435) playing for Manchester City. He has an estimated market value of around $245 million, making him tied for the most valuable player in the world alongside Spain’s Lamine Yamal.
“We will be neighbors in Abu Dhabi,” he said in the video. “I just got a house and so did my father.” His father is former Manchester City player Alfie Haaland.
The development, which is under construction along Yas Canal, will have more than 2,000 residences, including standalone villas, townhouses, waterfront penthouses and apartments. It’s scheduled for phased delivery by 2029.
The club’s influence will extend to a Manchester City training academy with soccer fields and fitness facilities, as well as a City Lounge and City Cafe, according to the developer.
Residents will also have access to tennis and basketball courts, a skate park, a parkour park, climbing walls and a karting arena. Cycling and jogging routes will wind through the community, and a marina sports club will offer kayaking, paddleboarding and sailing.
There will be recovery facilities, too, including hydrotherapy, cryotherapy, oxygen therapy and mindfulness spaces.
Sales for the second phase are scheduled to begin Oct. 19. Phase 1 sold out within 72 hours earlier this year, according to the developer.
It’s likely a smart time to own in the area. Development is bustling and Disney announced last year it would build its first theme park in the Middle East, Disneyland Abu Dhabi on Yas Island. The news excited the local real estate professionals, who expected Disney’s presence would boost property values.
A representative for Haaland couldn’t immediately be reached for comment. His purchase comes amid turmoil at Manchester City, after an independent commission found the club guilty of more than 100 breaches of Premier League financial rules. The team denies wrongdoing and has appealed the ruling.
