Release clauses, buy-back options and sell-on agreements are all standard parts of a modern-day football contract.
But every so often some truly baffling stipulations are squeezed into the small print of deals handed out by clubs from all over the world.
11
Contracts for footballers can be incredibly complicatedCredit: Getty
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain famously had a clause in his Arsenal deal that meant the Gunners would have to pay his former club Southampton £10,000 every time he played 20 minutes or more.
Spanish outlet El Mundo revealed in 2021 that now-Inter Miami star Lionel Messi had to ‘integrate into Catalan society and culture’ in his final Barcelona contract by learning the language but was available on a free transfer if the region became independent of Spain.
The rise of superagents and various player demands means standard contract negotiations are becoming increasingly complex.
However, it will still take some effort to top the clauses inserted to get the following ten deals over the line…
Spencer Prior
Cardiff City’s eccentric former owner Sam Hamman was renowned for the unique clauses he added to his players’ contracts.
And none more so than Prior’s signing from Manchester City was conditional on him eating sheep’s testicles – a delicacy in Hamman’s homeland Lebanon.
He said: “It must be the strangest contract in the history of football. But I’ll try anything once.”
Prior did indeed eat the dish with a pinch of salt, lemon and a little parsley… before it was later revealed that he was served slow-cooked chicken!
11
Prior with a ball at his feet…
Stefan Schwarz
The former Arsenal player was committed to signing up for one of the first commercial flights to space when he joined Sunderland from Valencia in 1999.
However, the Black Cats were less keen on this idea and inserted a clause in Schwarz’s contract that would nullify his deal should he leave the planet.
Sunderland’s then-chief executive, John Fickling, said: “One of Schwarz’s advisers has, indeed, got one of the places on the commercial flights.
“And we were worried that he may wish to take Stefan along with him. So we thought we’d better get things tied up now rather than at the time of the flight.”
11
Schwarz after NASA asks him to raise his hand if he wants to go to space
Giuseppe Reina
The German thought he was onto a winner when he told Arminia Bielefeld to build him a house for every year of his deal when he signed in 1996.
The club agreed to his demands but made sure to take Reina at his word as he never specified the size or type of property he wanted every season.
Bielefeld ended up building a house for their new striker out of LEGO for each year of his three-year contract – not the best way to keep him happy but funny nonetheless.
11
Reina wheeling away in celebration after Bielefeld builds him a LEGO townhouseCredit: Getty
Rolf-Christel Guie-Mien
A lot of footballers are looking out for their family’s best interests when signing a new deal with a club but Guie-Mien took it one step further.
The Congolese international instructed Eintracht Frankfurt to arrange cooking classes for his wife as part of his deal to join them in 1999.
The midfielder was insistent that his other half’s improved culinary skills would help him settle into German football better.
To be fair to Guie-Mien he then did spend the rest of his playing career until he retired in 2012 in Germany across six different clubs.
11
Guie-Mien was full of energy in Frankfurt after trying his wife’s famous pasta dishCredit: Getty
And the billionaire American was still smarting at the attempt two years later when Liverpool agreed a deal to sign Firmino from Hoffenheim.
The Al-Ahli’s forward’s first contract with the Merseysiders carried a €98million (£82.5m) release clause ‘if the interested club is not Arsenal’.
11
Firmino has scored a hat-trick against Arsenal while carrying an anti-Emirates contract
Ronaldinho
The former Ballon d’Or winner was an exception to a standard nightclub clause in his contract – in that his allowed him to continue partying.
Far from encouraging Ronaldinho to not go clubbing and focus on his football, the Brazil icon had a different agenda when he left AC Milan in 2011.
The World Cup winner had Flamengo stipulate in his contract that he was allowed to hit the town twice a week without getting a fine or other repercussions.
11
Flamengo won three trophies with party-mad Ronaldinho in their sideCredit: Getty – Contributor
Neil Ruddock
Crystal Palace had a desperate measure to ensure ‘Razor’ was in shape when he arrived a Selhurst Park towards the end of his career.
Ex-Eagles chairman and talkSPORT host Simon Jordan wrote in his autobiography: “On approaching West Ham I discovered he was a free transfer, although he did have a weighty salary — which was not the only weighty thing about him.
“Harry Redknapp, the West Ham manager at the time, told me to put in a weight clause.
“So I decided to put a 10 per cent penalty on the contract we were proposing to offer him if he was over the recommended weight of 99.8kg, which by the way was still frigging huge.”
11
Razor Ruddock spent one season at Palace, making 20 league appearances
Jurgen Klopp will leave Anfield on Sunday as a living legend, having restored Liverpool to the elite of English and European football while building a lasting bond with the city and its people.
Ever since the manager in January announced the shock decision he would be stepping down at the end of the season, the sense of loss that has enveloped Merseyside has been palpable.
The raw emotion is testament to a transformation that Liverpool had not seen since the days of Bill Shankly decades ago.
On Klopp’s first day in charge at Anfield in October 2015 he modestly declared himself as “a Normal One”, in stark contrast to Jose Mourinho’s bombastic “Special One” arrival as Chelsea boss a decade earlier.
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Yet the German would prove he was anything but normal, becoming the only Liverpool manager to complete the collection of Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup, League Cup, Club World Cup and Community Shield during his tenure.
Klopp arrived with Liverpool 10th in the Premier League table and without a league title in 25 years.
Yet his force of personality, charisma and coaching nous soon began to enchant a highly emotive fanbase.
“This is a very, very special club. I didn’t make them believe, I reminded them that it helps when you believe,” said Klopp earlier this month.
“Everybody was ready to push the train. That’s what we did now for eight-and-a-half years.”
Here are the five moments that sum up his special time on Merseyside.
Klopp led Liverpool to a first Champions League title since 2005.Source: AFP
2016: Dortmund delight
It took nearly four years for the trophies to start flowing for Klopp in England but there were memorable moments from his first season as Liverpool reached the Europa League final, where they lost to Sevilla.
Klopp faced a reunion with former club Borussia Dortmund in the quarter-finals. After a 1-1 draw in the first leg, two early goals from the Germans at Anfield left Liverpool with a mountain to climb.
But the Reds roared back, with Dejan Lovren scoring a late winner as Klopp bounced up and down on the touchline, celebrating a 5-4 win on aggregate.
Liverpool would go onto reach four European finals under Klopp as he restored the English giants as a powerhouse in continental competition.
Liverpool’s Croatian defender Dejan Lovren (L) celebrates with Jurgen Klopp after the epic win.Source: AFP
2019: Barcelona blown away
For all of Liverpool’s rich history in European competition, arguably Anfield’s greatest ever night came in a remarkable fightback against Barcelona to reach the Champions League final in 2019.
A Lionel Messi-inspired Barca had won the first leg 3-0 at the Camp Nou. Back at Anfield they were demolished by an understrength Liverpool, who were without two of their own talismanic front three in Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino.
In their absence, Divock Origi was the unlikely hero as he and Georginio Wijnaldum each scored twice in a stunning 4-0 victory.
Klopp celebrates with Mo Salah and Virgil Van Dijk after one of Liverpool’s greatest European nights.Source: Getty Images
2019: Champions League glory
After beating Barcelona, Tottenham were tamed as tens of thousands of Liverpool supporters turned Madrid red in celebration of a sixth Champions League title.
Salah and Origi scored the goals at the Metropolitano Stadium as Klopp finally got his hands on Europe’s biggest prize after losing his two previous finals with Dortmund and Liverpool.
Klopp with the Champions League trophy as the team celebrated in an open-top bus parade in Liverpool.Source: AFP
2020: First Premier League trophy for 30 years
Liverpool posted a then club-record 97 Premier League points in the 2018/19 season, but still missed out on the title by one point to a relentless Manchester City.
The following year they were not to be denied — even by the interruption to the season caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
Klopp’s men won 26 and drew one of their opening 27 games on their way to racking up 99 points and claiming a first league title in 30 years.
The players had to lift the trophy at an empty Anfield because of Covid restrictions, but thousands of fans defied the ban on socialising to gather outside the stadium, setting off red flares.
After years of near misses, Liverpool finally ended their long wait for another league crown in 2020.Source: AFP
2024: Unlikely final trophy
After a difficult 2022/23 campaign, Klopp proved his managerial acumen once more by refreshing the squad with youth and energy, which inspired another quadruple quest.
Klopp’s goodbye did not reach a glorious crescendo as Liverpool’s Premier League title challenge came off the rails in the final weeks of the campaign and they exited the FA Cup and Europa League.
However, there was still silverware to celebrate from his final season in the League Cup.
Virgil van Dijk’s header minutes from the end of extra-time beat Chelsea 1-0 to secure an unlikely triumph for Klopp’s understrength side.
Liverpool were severely weakened by injuries and absences at the Africa Cup of Nations and Asian Cup when they arrived at Wembley.
But Klopp’s faith in a clutch of teenagers paid off as they helped turn the tide in Liverpool’s favour during extra-time before Van Dijk’s stooping header broke the deadlock.
“It was a win-win situation from the first day. I enjoyed each second of it,” Klopp said recently.
“The responsibility and love that grew over the years is a big part of the decision I made, so I’m absolutely fine and at peace with the decision.”
Release clauses, buy-back options and sell-on agreements are all standard parts of a modern-day football contract.
But every so often some truly baffling stipulations are squeezed into the small print of deals handed out by the Premier League’s most elite clubs.
11
Premier League contracts have become more and more complexCredit: Getty
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain famously had a clause in his Arsenal deal that meant the Gunners would have to pay his former club Southampton £10,000 every time he played 20 minutes or more.
Spanish outlet El Mundo revealed in 2021 that now-Inter Miami star Lionel Messi had to ‘integrate into Catalan society and culture’ in his final Barcelona contract by learning the language but was available on a free transfer if the region became independent of Spain.
The rise of superagents and various player demands means standard contract negotiations are becoming increasingly complex.
However, it will still take some effort to top the clauses inserted to get the following ten deals over the line…
Spencer Prior
Cardiff City’s eccentric former owner Sam Hamman was renowned for the unique clauses he added to his players’ contracts.
And none more so than Prior’s signing from Manchester City was conditional on him eating sheep’s testicles – a delicacy in Hamman’s homeland Lebanon.
He said: “It must be the strangest contract in the history of football. But I’ll try anything once.”
Prior did indeed eat the dish with a pinch of salt, lemon and a little parsley… before it was later revealed that he was served slow-cooked chicken!
11
Prior with a ball at his feet…
Stefan Schwarz
The former Arsenal player was committed to signing up for one of the first commercial flights to space when he joined Sunderland from Valencia in 1999.
However, the Black Cats were less keen on this idea and inserted a clause in Schwarz’s contract that would nullify his deal should he leave the planet.
Sunderland’s then-chief executive, John Fickling, said: “One of Schwarz’s advisers has, indeed, got one of the places on the commercial flights.
“And we were worried that he may wish to take Stefan along with him. So we thought we’d better get things tied up now rather than at the time of the flight.”
11
Schwarz after NASA asks him to raise his hand if he wants to go to space
Giuseppe Reina
The German thought he was onto a winner when he told Arminia Bielefeld to build him a house for every year of his deal when he signed in 1996.
The club agreed to his demands but made sure to take Reina at his word as he never specified the size or type of property he wanted every season.
Bielefeld ended up building a house for their new striker out of LEGO for each year of his three-year contract – not the best way to keep him happy but funny nonetheless.
11
Reina wheeling away in celebration after Bielefeld builds him a LEGO townhouseCredit: Getty
Rolf-Christel Guie-Mien
A lot of footballers are looking out for their family’s best interests when signing a new deal with a club but Guie-Mien took it one step further.
The Congolese international instructed Eintracht Frankfurt to arrange cooking classes for his wife as part of his deal to join them in 1999.
The midfielder was insistent that his other half’s improved culinary skills would help him settle into German football better.
To be fair to Guie-Mien he then did spend the rest of his playing career until he retired in 2012 in Germany across six different clubs.
11
Guie-Mien was full of energy in Frankfurt after trying his wife’s famous pasta dishCredit: Getty
And the billionaire American was still smarting at the attempt two years later when Liverpool agreed a deal to sign Firmino from Hoffenheim.
The Al-Ahli’s forward’s first contract with the Merseysiders carried a €98million (£82.5m) release clause ‘if the interested club is not Arsenal’.
11
Firmino has scored a hat-trick against Arsenal while carrying an anti-Emirates contract
Ronaldinho
The former Ballon d’Or winner was an exception to a standard nightclub clause in his contract – in that his allowed him to continue partying.
Far from encouraging Ronaldinho to not go clubbing and focus on his football, the Brazil icon had a different agenda when he left AC Milan in 2011.
The World Cup winner had Flamengo stipulate in his contract that he was allowed to hit the town twice a week without getting a fine or other repercussions.
11
Flamengo won three trophies with party-mad Ronaldinho in their sideCredit: Getty – Contributor
Neil Ruddock
Crystal Palace had a desperate measure to ensure ‘Razor’ was in shape when he arrived a Selhurst Park towards the end of his career.
Ex-Eagles chairman and talkSPORT host Simon Jordan wrote in his autobiography: “On approaching West Ham I discovered he was a free transfer, although he did have a weighty salary — which was not the only weighty thing about him.
“Harry Redknapp, the West Ham manager at the time, told me to put in a weight clause.
“So I decided to put a 10 per cent penalty on the contract we were proposing to offer him if he was over the recommended weight of 99.8kg, which by the way was still frigging huge.”
11
Razor Ruddock spent one season at Palace, making 20 league appearances
Writing in his book, Si Senor: My Liverpool Years, Firmino wrote: “Tense moments usually passed quickly. In the next game, one would be passing the ball to the other – or passing it to me, who would then pass it to the other – and we’d be celebrating another goal for our team.
“Together. Salah and Mane had had their little problems before, but that time everything happened on the field, there for the world to see. That day, at Burnley, the lid came off.
“Their argument wasn’t funny. Potentially, it could have caused problems for us. Maybe the Boss [Jurgen Klopp] and some others were worried.”
Liverpool’s front three of Salah, Mane and Firmino were among the most feared forwards in Europe in 2019.
But it became clear that defenders were not their biggest problem but rather themselves, so Klopp moved to try fix the relationship by giving a speech on selfishness – that looked like an indirect poke at Salah.
2
Mane was fuming with Salah during Liverpool’s clash against Burnley in August 2019Credit: Getty
Firmino added: “They were never best friends; each kept himself to himself. It was rare to see the two of them talking and I’m not sure if that had to do with the Egypt–Senegal rivalry in African competitions.
“I truly don’t know. But they also never stopped talking, never severed ties. They always acted with the utmost professionalism.
Danny Murphy explains why Jurgen Klopp’s achievements at Liverpool have been underrated
“I don’t know if he was aware of it or not, but Salah used to frustrate everyone when he didn’t pass the ball. I knew how to handle that situation better than most.
“Klopp addressed this issue in front of all of us: when a teammate was in a better position, the ball had to be passed. It was a clear hint aimed at Salah.
“Over the years, I must say, this aspect of his game improved significantly.
“He gradually learned to be less selfish and more cooperative – notwithstanding the fact that he is a striker, a goalscorer, and every goalscorer tends to be a bit ‘greedy’ in the pursuit of a goal. That’s normal.”
Mane left Liverpool in 2022 for Bayern Munich while Firmino packed his bags in the summer after his contract expired.
But their era at Anfield will never be forgotten, scoring a whopping 338 goals since becoming a trio during the 2017/18 season, winning the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup and Carabao Cup along the way.
Manchester City signed Belgian winger Jeremy Doku from French club Rennes on a five-year deal on Thursday.
Doku, 21, will reportedly cost the European champions £55.5 million ($109 million AUD). “This is a great day for me, both personally and professionally,” Doku said in a City statement.
“Manchester City are the best team in world football, so to be joining them is something very special for me and my family.
“I am a young player with so much learning and improving to do. Working with Pep (Guardiola) and his staff, and playing alongside these work-class players, will make me a much better player.”
Doku scored 12 goals in 92 appearances for Rennes after making his breakthrough as a teenager with Anderlecht in his homeland.
He becomes City’s third signing of the transfer window after Croatian international duo Mateo Kovacic and Josko Gvardiol.
The treble winners were in the market for a winger to replace the departed Riyad Mahrez, who joined Saudi side Al-Ahli.
City are also expected to add a midfielder before the window shuts on September 1 to cover the absence of Kevin De Bruyne, who is set to miss up to four months due to a hamstring injury.
Wolves’ Matheus Nunes and Crystal Palace’s Eberechi Eze are reportedly targets after interest in West Ham’s Lucas Paqueta collapsed due to a Football Association investigation into a possible breach of betting regulations by the Brazilian.
An offer for Nunes has been rejected by Wolves.
Rennes’ Belgian forward #10 Jeremy Doku (R) in action last week.Source: AFP
Meanwhile, Aymeric Laporte joined the Premier League exodus to Saudi Arabia on Thursday as the Manchester City defender moved to Al-Nassr in a deal worth a reported £23 million ($29 million).
Spain centre-back Laporte won 12 major honours during his successful spell with City.
However, he fell out of favour at times during City’s treble-winning campaign and the close-season signing of Croatia defender Josko Gvardiol further restricted his chances of regular action.
The 29-year-old is the latest City star to accept a lucrative switch to the Gulf State after Algeria winger Riyad Mahrez recently joined Al-Ahli.
Laporte made 180 appearances for City after arriving from Athletic Bilbao for a then club record £57 million in January 2018.
“I am proud to have represented Manchester City over the last six seasons,” Laporte said.
“When I first joined, I was excited about the prospect of winning trophies. However, I could not have imagined the success we would go on to achieve together.
“I would like to thank the coaches, my teammates and of course the brilliant City fans for all of their support throughout my time in Manchester.
“I will always be a City fan and I look forward to seeing you all again.” Laporte won five Premier League titles, the Champions League and five domestic cups as a member of Pep Guardiola’s squad.
Laporte with Pep Guardiola.Source: AFP
Now he will link up with Cristiano Ronaldo and Sadio Mane at Saudi Pro League outfit Al-Nassr.
They are one of four Saudi clubs to be taken over by the Public Investment Fund (PIF) in June, sparking a spending spree on star names from the Premier League and across the rest of Europe’s top divisions.
Brazil forward Neymar and French duo Karim Benzema and N’Golo Kante are among the leading names snapped up by Saudi clubs.
Roberto Firmino, Jordan Henderson, Kalidou Koulibaly, Aleksandar Mitrovic, Alex Telles and Ruben Neves have also moved to the Gulf State.
Al Hilal are reported to have negotiated a £50 million ($AUD99 million deal for the 28-year-old.
“The club can confirm that Aleksandar Mitrovic has this evening left to join Al Hilal in the Saudi Pro League for a club record transfer fee,” Fulham said in a statement.
“The club had reluctantly accepted a revised offer as the player had consistently made his desire to leave known.”
Mitrovic pushed for a move in order to join the growing list of players swapping Europe for a lucrative switch to the Gulf state.
He will be Al Hilal’s latest high-profile signing after their swoops for Neymar, Kalidou Koulibaly, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Ruben Neves and Malcom.
Mitrovic has gone to Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Nathan Stirk/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Manchester City have completed the signing of Croatia centre-back Josko Gvardiol on a five-year deal from RB Leipzig, the Premier League champions announced Saturday.
No financial details were revealed but Pep Guardiola’s side are understood to have agreed a fee of €90 million ($AUD150 million) for the Croatia international.
Gvardiol, 21, has impressed in his two seasons at Leipzig which he joined from Dynamo Zagreb in July 2021.
“I have always dreamed of one day playing in England and to be doing so now with Manchester City – after the season they have just had – is a real honour for me,” said Gvardiol of joining a team which won the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League last year.
“Anyone who saw Manchester City play last season knows they are the best team in the world. To win the Treble says everything you need to know about the quality this team has.” Gvardiol becomes Man City’s second signing ahead of the 2023/24 campaign, following fellow Croatian international Mateo Kovacic.
Gvardiol has signed for Manchester City. (Photo by Martin Rose/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
“To be joining City is something very special for me and my family,” continued Gvardiol.
“To have the chance to work with Pep Guardiola, too, will be amazing for me. “I know I am not yet the finished article and I am sure my game will progress under the best coach in football.
“To be linking up with Mateo Kovacic will also be special. He’s a top footballer and I hope we can both help City achieve another successful season in 2023/24 and then beyond.” Capped 21 times for Croatia, Gvardiol made 87 appearances across two seasons for Leipzig winning back-to-back German Cups.
He won two league titles with Zagreb before moving to the Bundesliga.
PL DONE DEALS
ARSENAL
In
Declan Rice [West Ham] £105m
Kai Havertz [Chelsea] £65m
Jurrien Timber [Ajax] £38m
Out
Granit Xhaka [Bayer Leverkusen] £21m
Pablo Mari [AC Monza] £6m
Nikolaj Moller [FC St. Gallen] Undisclosed
Mazeed Ogungbo [Barrow] Undisclosed
Ben Cottrell [NS Mura] Undisclosed
Mauro Bandeira [Colchester United] Loan
Auston Trusty [Sheffield United] Undisclosed
Tom Smith [Colchester] Free
Ainsley Maitland-Niles [Released]
Matt Smith [Released]
Joel Ideho [Released]
George Lewis [Released]
Tom Smith [Released]
Zach Awe [Released]
Kaleel Green [Released]
Alexandar Kovacevic [Released]
Tino Quamina [Released]
Mathaeus Roberts [Released]
Declan Rice moved to Arsenal for a British record fee. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
ASTON VILLA
In
Pau Torres [Villarreal] £35m
Youri Tielemans [Leicester] Free
Moussa Diaby [Bayer Leverkusen] Undisclosed
Out
Marvelous Nakamba [Luton Town] Undisclosed
Wesley [Stoke City] Undisclosed
Morgan Sanson [Nice] Loan
Kaine Kesler-Hayden [Plymouth Argyle] Loan
Louie Barry [Stockport County] Loan
Finn Azaz [Plymouth] Loan
Ashley Young [Everton] Free
Declan Frith [Released]
Hayden Lindley [Released]
Arjan Raikhy [Released]
Ruben Shakpoke [Released]
Myles Sohna [Released]
Jed Steer [Released]
Brad Young [Released]
Aston Villa broke their transfer fee record to snap up Moussa Diaby from Bayer Leverkusen. (Photo by Nathan Stirk/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
BOURNEMOUTH
In
Justin Kluivert [Roma] Undisclosed
Romain Faivre [Lyon] Undisclosed (sent on loan to Lorient)
Hamed Traore [Sassuolo] £20m
Milos Kerkez [AZ Alkmaar] Undisclosed
Andrei Radu [Inter Milan] Loan
Out
Siriki Dembele [Birmingham] Undisclosed
Jefferson Lerma [Crystal Palace] Free
Jack Stacey [Norwich City] Free
Ben Pearson [Stoke] Undisclosed
Will Dennis [Kilmarnock] Loan
Mark Travers [Stoke] Loan
Junior Stanislas [Released]
Josh Popoola [Released]
Tarik Gidaree [Released]
Matthew Burgess [Released]
Christopher Francis [Released]
Brooklyn Genesini [Released]
BRENTFORD
In
Nathan Collins [Wolves] £23m
Kevin Schade [Freiburg] £22m
Mark Flekken [Freiburg] £11m
Kim Ji-soo [Seongnam] Undisclosed
Ethan Brierley [Rochdale] Undisclosed
Ethan Laidlaw [Hibernian] Undisclosed
Romeo Beckham [Inter Miami] Undisclosed
Erion Zabeli [Oxford United] Free
Out
Pontus Jansson [Malmo] Free
Daniel Oyegoke [Bradford] Loan
Fin Stevens [Oxford] Loan
Matthew Cox [Bristol Rovers] Loan
Paris Maghoma [Bolton] Loan
Tristan Crama [Bristol Rovers] Loan
Ben Winterbottom [Welling] Loan
Alex Gilbert [Middlesbrough] Free
Paris Maghoma [Bolton] Loan
Saman Ghoddos [Released]
Tariqe Fosu [Released]
Joel Valencia [Released]
J’Neil Bennett [Released]
Lachlan Brook [Released]
Nico Jones [Released]
Roco Rees [Released]
Roy Syla [Released]
Lucias Vine [Released]
Collins moved from Wolves to Brentford. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images for Premier League)Source: Getty Images
BRIGHTON
In
Joao Pedro [Watford] £30m
Bart Verbruggen [Anderlecht] £16.3m
Igor Julio [Fiorentina] £14.5m
Jacob Slater [Preston North End] Undisclosed
Mahmoud Dahoud [Borussia Dortmund] Free
James Milner [Liverpool] Free
Out
Alexis Mac Allister [Liverpool] £55m
Robert Sanchez [Chelsea] £25m
Antef Tsoungui [Feyenoord] Undisclosed
Taylor Richards [Queens Park Rangers] Undisclosed
Aaron Connolly [Hull] Undisclosed
Kjell Scherpen [Sturm Graz] Loan
Abdallah Sima [Rangers] Loan
James Beadle [Oxford United] Loan
Marc Leonard [Northampton Town] Loan
Jeremy Sarmiento [West Brom] Loan
Carl Rushworth [Swansea] Loan
Ed Turns [Leyton Orient] Loan
Toby Bull [Released]
Billie Clark [Released]
Matthew Everitt [Released]
Teddy Jenks [Forest Green] Free
Todd Miller [Released]
Sam Packham [Released]
Haydon Roberts [Released]
Casey Gabriel-Shann [Released]
Jack Spong [Released]
Fynn Talley [Peterborough] Free
Lorent Tolaj [Released]
Antef Tsoungui [Released]
Ben Wilson [Released]
BURNLEY
In
James Trafford [Manchester City] £19m
Dara O’Shea [West Brom] £7m
Luca Koleosho [Espanyol] £2.6m
Zeki Amdouni [Basel] Undisclosed
Jordan Beyer [Borussia Monchengladbach] Undisclosed
Lawrence Vigouroux [Leyton Orient] Undisclosed
Michael Obafemi [Swansea] Undisclosed
Nathan Redmond [Besiktas] Free
Jacob Bruun Larsen [Hoffenheim] Loan
Out
Ashley Barnes [Norwich] Free
Lewis Thomas [Harrogate] Free
Bailey Peacock-Farrell [AGF Aarhus] Loan
Michael Mellon [Morecambe] Loan
Will Norris [Portsmouth] Free
Lukas Jensen [Lincoln] Free
Luke McNally [Stoke] Loan
CHELSEA
In
Christopher Nkunku [RB Leipzig] £52m
Axel Disasi [Monaco] £38.5m
Nicolas Jackson [Villarreal] £32m
Robert Sanchez [Brighton] £25m
Lesley Ugochukwu [Rennes] £24m
Kendry Paez [Independiente del Valle] Undisclosed
Dujuan Richards [Phoenix All Stars Academy] Undisclosed
Angelo Gabriel [Santos] Undisclosed
Alex Matos [Norwich] Undisclosed
Diego Moreira [Benfica] Undisclosed
Ishe Samuels-Smith [Everton] Undisclosed
Out
Kai Havertz [Arsenal] £65m
Mason Mount [Manchester United] £55m
Christian Pulisic [AC Milan] £20m
Mateo Kovacic [Manchester City] £30m
Ruben Loftus-Cheek [AC Milan] £15m
Kalidou Kouilbay [Al-Hilal] Undisclosed
Edouard Mendy [Al-Ahli] Undisclosed
N’Golo Kante [Al-Ittihad] Free
Cesar Azpilicueta [Atletico Madrid] Free
Ethan Ampadu [Leeds] £7m
David Datro Fofana [Union Berlin] Loan
Dujon Sterling [Rangers] Free
Baba Rahman [PAOK] Free
Derrick Abu [Released]
Prince Adegoke [Released]
Tiemoue Bakayoko [Released]
Nathan Baxter [Bolton] Free
Juan Castillo [Released]
Bryan Fiabema [Released]
Joe Haigh [Released]
Henry Lawrence [Released]
Sam McClelland [Released]
Silko Thomas [Released]
Ethan Wady [Released]
Jayden Wareham [Released]
Charlie Webster [Heerenveen] Loan
Dion Rankine [Exeter] Loan
Nkunku is Chelsea’s big-money signing this summer. (Photo by Mike Stobe / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)Source: AFP
CRYSTAL PALACE
In
Jefferson Lerma [Bournemouth] Free
Out
Wilfried Zaha [Galatasaray] Free
Rob Street [Cheltenham] Free
Luke Plange [Carlisle] Loan
James McArthur [Released]
Luka Milivojevic [Released]
Jack Butland [Rangers] Free
Joshua Addae [Released]
David Boateng [Released]
Ryan Bartley [Released]
Maliq Cadogan [Released]
Reece Hannam [Released]
David Omilabu [Released]
Daniel Quick [Released]
EVERTON
In
Ashley Young [Aston Villa] Free
Arnaut Danjuma [Villarreal] Loan
Out
Ellis Simms [Coventry] £7m
Yerry Mina [Released]
Andros Townsend [Released]
Niels Nkounkou [Saint-Etienne] Undisclosed
Einar Iversen [Released]
Isaac Price [Released]
Tom Davies [Released]
Harry Tyrer [Chesterfield] Loan
Lewis Warrington [Plymouth] Loan
Stanley Mills [Oxford] Loan
FULHAM
In
Raul Jimenez [Wolves] £5m
Calvin Bassey [Ajax] Undisclosed
Willian
Out
Shane Duffy [Norwich] Free
Kieron Bowie [Northampton Town] Loan
Ibane Bowat [TSV Hartberg] Loan
Joe Bryan [Millwall] Free
Thorsteinn Antonsson [Released]
Paulo Gazzaniga [Girona] Free
Sonny Hilton [Released]
Sylvester Jasper [Released]
Neeskens Kebano [Al-Jazira] Free
Ziyad Larkeche [QPR] Free
Jonathon Page [Released]
Steven Sessegnon [Released]
Jean-Pierre Tiéhi [Released]
LIVERPOOL
In
Alexis Mac Allister [Brighton] £35m
Dominik Szoboszlai [RB Leipzig] £60m
Out
Fabinho [Al-Ittihad] Undisclosed
Jordan Henderson [Al-Ettifaq] £12m
Rhys Williams [Aberdeen] Loan
Calvin Ramsay [Preston North End ] Loan
Sepp van den Berg [Mainz] Loan
Fabio Carvalho [RB Leipzig] Loan
Roberto Firmino [Al-Ahli] Free
James Milner [Brighton] Free
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain [Released]
Naby Keita [Werder Bremen] Free
Jack Bearne [Released]
Liam Hughes [Released]
Oscar Kelly [Released]
Fidel O’Rourke [Released]
Oludare Olufunwa [Released]
Leighton Clarkson [Aberdeen] Undisclosed
Harvey Davies [Crewe Alexandra] Loan
Adam Lewis [Newport County] Loan
Owen Beck [Dundee FC] Loan
Anderson Arroyo [FC Andorra] Loan
Dominik Szoboszlai adds plenty of quality to Liverpool’s midfield. (Photo by Matthias Hangst/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
LUTON TOWN
In
Tahith Chong [Birmingham] £4m
Marvelous Nakamba [Aston Villa] Undisclosed
Ryan Giles [Wolves] Undisclosed
Mads Andersen [Barnsley] Undisclosed
Chiedozie Ogbene [Rotherham United] Free
Issa Kabore [Manchester City] Free
Thomas Kaminski [Luton Town] Undisclosed
Out
Harry Isted [Charlton] Free
Josh Neufville [AFC Wimbledon] Free
Sonny Bradley [Derby] Free
Henri Lansbury [Released]
Fred Onyedinma [Rotherham United]
Elliot Thorpe [Shrewsbury Town] Loan
Jack Walton [Dundee United] Loan
MANCHESTER CITY
In
Josko Gvardiol [RB Leipzig] £77m
Mateo Kovacic [Chelsea] £30m
Spike Brits [AFC Wimbledon] Undisclosed
Out
Riyad Mahrez [Al-Ahil] £30m
James Trafford [Burnley] £19m
Shea Charles [Southampton] £15m
lkay Gundogan [Barcelona] Free
Carlos Borges [Ajax] £17.3m
Terrell Agyemang [Middlesbrough] Free
Finley Burns [Stevenage] Loan
Rowan McDonald [Released]
Benjamin Mendy [Released]
Morgan Rogers [Middlesbrough] Undisclosed
Kian Breckin [Wycombe] Loan
Liam Delap [Hull City] Loan
Callum Doyle [Leicester] Loan
MANCHESTER UNITED
In
Mason Mount [Chelsea] £55m
Andre Onana [Inter Milan] £47m
Jonny Evans [Leicester] Free
Out
Anthony Elanga [Nottingham Forest] £15m
Alex Telles [Al Nassr] Undisclosed
David de Gea [Released]
Zidane Iqbal [Utrecht] £850,000
Ethan Laird [Birmingham City] Undisclosed
Ethan Galbraith [Leyton Orient] Free
Issa Kaboure [Luton Town] Free
Di’Shon Bernard [Sheffield Wednesday] Free
Nathan Bishop [Sunderland] Undisclosed
Will Fish [Hibernian] Loan
Phil Jones [Released]
Axel Tuanzebe [Released]
Di’Shon Bernard [Released]
Eric Hanbury [Released]
Charlie Wellens [Released]
Manni Norkett [Nottingham Forest] Free
Mason Mount moved from Chelsea to Manchester United. (Photo by Mark Runnacles/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
NEWCASTLE UNITED
In
Sandro Tonali [AC Milan] £52m
Harvey Barnes [Leicester] £38m
Yankuba Minteh [Odense Boldklub] Undisclosed
Out
Chris Wood [Nottingham Forest] £15m
Allan Saint-Maximin [Al-Ahli] Undisclosed
Karl Darlow [Leeds] Undisclosed
Matty Bondswell [Newport] Loan
Jamal Lewis [Watford] Loan
Kell Watts [Wigan] Loan
Niall Brookwell [Released]
Ciaran Clark [Released]
Dan Langley [Released]
Matty Longstaff [Released]
Josh Stewart [Released]
Isaac Westendorf [Released]
NOTTINGHAM FOREST
In
Chris Wood [Newcastle] £15m
Anthony Elanga [Manchester United] £15m
Manni Norkett [Manchester United] Free
Ola Aina [Torino] Free
Out
Will Swan [Mansfield] Undisclosed
Braian Ojeda [Real Salt Lake] Undisclosed
Sam Surridge [Nashville SC] Free
Jack Colback [QPR] Free
Cafu [Rotherham] Free
Oli Hammond [Cheltenham Town] Loan
Josh Bowler [Cardiff] Loan
Andre Ayew [Released]
Jesse Lingard [Released]
Jordan Smith [Released]
Lyle Taylor [Released]
Billy Fewster [Released]
Alex Gibson-Hammond [Released]
Ryan Hammon [Released]
SHEFFIELD UNITED
In
Anis Slimane [Brondby] Undisclosed
Benie Traore [Hacken] Undisclosed
Yasser Larouci [Troyes] Loan
Auston Trusty [Arsenal] Undisclosed
Out
Illiman Ndiaye [Marseille] Undisclosed
George Broadbent [Doncaster Rovers] Undisclosed
Jake Eastwood [Grimsby Town] Undisclosed
Harry Boyes [Wycombe] Loan
Jack O’Connell [Released]
Billy Sharp [Released]
Enda Stevens [Stoke] Free
Kyron Gordon [Released]
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
In
James Maddison [Leicester City] £40m
Manor Solomon [Shakhtar Donetsk] Free
Guglielmo Vicario [Empoli] Undisclosed
Dejan Kulusevski [Juventus] Undisclosed
Out
Harry Winks [Leicester] £10m
Lucas Moura [Released]
Jamie Bowden [Released]
Kallum Cesay [Released]
Malachi Fagan-Walcott [Released]
Marqes Muir [Released]
England international James Maddison moved to Tottenham. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP)Source: AFP
WEST HAM UNITED
In
Sean Moore [Cliftonville] Undisclosed – joining U21 squad
Saudi side Al Nassr confirmed the signing of Bayern Munich striker Sadio Mane where he will team up with five-time Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo.
The Senegalese international is the latest high profile player to join the cash-rich Saudi league.
Both clubs announced the transfer involving the former Liverpool star which German media estimated at around 30 million euros ($A50m) with an annual salary for Mane of 40 million ($A66m) plus 10 million ($A17m) in results-based bonuses.
Earlier Tuesday Mane, 31, rued his departure with two years of his contract at Bayern remaining.
The Senegalese international is the latest high profile player to join the cash-rich Saudi league and will link up with five-time Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo. (Photo by Christof STACHE / AFP)Source: AFP
“Leaving Bayern hurts me. I would have wished for a different ending,” he told Sky Germany.
Those sentiments were echoed by Bayern boss Thomas Tuchel when he spoke in Singapore on the eve of his side’s friendly against Liverpool.
“We had a long, big hug and we both agreed that we don’t like what’s happening now, but we think it’s for the best in this situation,” said the Bayern coach.
“Sometimes things don’t work out as everybody wants it to work out. In person I have always had a very good relationship with him and this will stay.
“I can totally understand that he feels hurt and I also wouldn’t feel happy if things like this happened.
“Obviously it’s something that we didn’t bring into the full potential, which is my job and my responsibility, but in this particular situation, it was the best solution to untie the knot.”
The news of Mane’s signing comes as Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp on Tuesday urged football authorities to address the late closure of the transfer window in the Saudi Arabia league, fearing it may have a detrimental effect on European clubs.
Speaking in Singapore on the eve of his team’s pre-season friendly against German champions Bayern Munich, Klopp voiced his concern while reacting to the news that Mane is set to leave Bayern to join Saudi side Al Nassr.
Liverpool FC team manager Jurgen Klopp voiced his concerns (Photo by Roslan RAHMAN / AFP)Source: AFP
“The influence of Saudi Arabia? We will see. I don’t know. At the moment it looks like they have quite an influence, it is massive,” said the German.
“I think that pretty much the worst thing is that the transfer window in Saudi Arabia is open for three weeks longer. If I am right, I heard something like that. Then, at least in Europe, that’s not helpful. So UEFA and FIFA must find solutions for that.
“But in the end, I don’t know at this moment exactly what will happen. It is already influential, for us, for sure. We will have to learn to deal with it, but that’s what we do,” he added.
“That’s pretty much all I can say about it, time will show.”
Mane moves to the club that instigated the first coup of a raft of signings by Saudi clubs with the capture of Ronaldo.
Mane won the Champions League and Premier League in six seasons with Liverpool and was a key part of Jurgen Klopp’s devastating front three with Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino.
When Liverpool won their first English league title for 30 years in the pandemic-disrupted 2019-2020 season, Mane scored 18 goals.
But in the summer of 2022, when he won the African Player of the Year, Mane decided he wanted a new challenge — unconfirmed rumours said he had tired of sharing the limelight with Egypt’s Salah at Anfield.
Bayern made a big play for Mane. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP)Source: AFP
Bayern made a big play for Mane, promising to make him the focal point of an attack which had just lost the services of Robert Lewandowski to Barcelona.
After a strong start to the season at Bayern, it soon become clear that Mane was not clicking in Bavaria.
In a Bundesliga game against Werder Bremen in November, Mane suffered an injury to his fibula and his season was put on hold.
The injury forced him to miss the World Cup in Qatar at the end of last year in a crushing blow to Senegal’s chances.
Bayern CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen reflected on Mane’s difficult spell in Germany. “It certainly wasn’t an easy year for him, getting injured just before the World Cup and being unable to take part in it with Senegal,” he told Bayern’s website.
Dreesen added: “Because of his long lay-off he also couldn’t have the impact at FC Bayern that we all and he himself had hoped for.
“That’s why we came to the joint decision that he’ll begin a new chapter in his career and make a new start at a different club.”
Post denies Portugal’s 90th minute upset | 00:27
While Mane returned to the Bayern team in 2023, his problems were underlined when he became involved in a physical altercation with teammate Leroy Sane following a Champions League defeat to Manchester City.
Bayern reportedly fined Mane around 350,000 euros ($A581,000) and gave him a one-match suspension for his part in the incident.
He ended the season with an underwhelming 12 goals in 38 games across all competitions.
Aside from Ronaldo, Al Nassr have also signed this summer Croatia midfielder Marcelo Brozovic, Brazil full-back Alex Telles and Ivory Coast midfielder Seko Fofana.
CHELSEA SIGN RENNES TEEN
Chelsea have signed teenage midfielder Lesley Ugochukwu from Rennes on a seven-year contract, the Premier League club announced on Tuesday.
The France Under-19 international moves to Stamford Bridge for a reported fee of £23.5 million ($A45.4m) as the club continue their rebuild under new boss Mauricio Pochettino.
Ugochukwu, 19, made his senior debut for Rennes in 2021 and went on to play 60 times for his boyhood club.
He follows Christopher Nkunku, Nicolas Jackson and Angelo Gabriel to west London, with defender Axel Disasi’s move from Monaco expected to be completed in the coming days.
Brazil midfielder Fabinho has signed a three-year deal with Saudi Arabian side Al-Ittihad after completing his move from Liverpool on Monday.
The 29-year-old was left out of Liverpool’s pre-season squads for trips to Germany and Singapore after Al-Ittihad made a £40 million ($51 million) bid for him.
He will join Karim Benzema and N’Golo Kante at Al-Ittihad, one of four Saudi clubs controlled by the Gulf state’s sovereign wealth fund.
Fabinho joined Liverpool from Monaco in 2018 and made 219 appearances for the Reds, winning the Champions League, Premier League, FA Cup, League Cup and Club World Cup.
“Today I leave my home. It’s been five years wearing this jersey and always with the greatest honor and happiness possible,” Fabinho wrote on Twitter, which is being rebranded as X.
“Since day one at Liverpool, I’ve been embraced by everyone,” he added. “In these five years, I grew as a player, as a man, I made dreams come true … With that jersey, I won every title a player can dream of.”
Fabinho ‘made dreams come true’.Source: Getty Images
His departure comes after Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson ended his 12-year stay at Anfield last week, moving to Saudi Arabia to play for Al-Ettifaq, who are coached by Steven Gerrard.
Fabinho’s compatriot Roberto Firmino left Merseyside to sign for Al-Ahli earlier this month.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has also seen midfielders Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and James Milner depart on free transfers since the end of last season.
But the club have reinforced that area of the field with the signings of Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai.
Liverpool’s Brazilian trio of Firmino (L), keeper Alisson Becker and Fabinho celebrating their Champions League triumph in 2019/20. Only Alisson remains at the Reds.Source: AFP
It comes after French winger Allan Saint-Maximin on Sunday signed a three-year deal with Saudi Arabia’s Al-Ahli after leaving English club Newcastle as the cash-rich and ambitious Gulf kingdom’s league snared another top-level player.
“We pick the best, and he’s one of them,” Al-Ahli said on social media.
The financial terms of the deal were not revealed but English press reports have estimated it to be in the region of £23 million.
Saint-Maximin, 26, made 124 appearances for Saudi-backed Newcastle and scored 13 goals since joining from Nice in 2019.
The exciting Saint-Maximin is leaving Newcastle.Source: AFP
In an emotional social media post, Saint-Maximin wrote: “I fell for Newcastle, I had great opportunities to leave during dark days, but that was too late I was already in love, I wanted, I needed, I had to stay for helping my team to save the club from Premier League relegation because it meant the world for me.
“Of course, during those dark days some may have had their doubts, but I always believed in this club and look where we are today, it’s just so beautiful. I’m leaving Newcastle as it should always have been and that’s my greatest trophy because I was a part of it.
“Even though this chapter has ended, the story never stops. Newcastle is home now. I’ll continue to be your biggest supporter.”
Bayern Munich has announced that Senegalese striker Sadio Mane was in talks “about a change of club” with reports suggesting he was destined for Saudi side Al Nassr.
Kylian Mbappe has been linked to a Saudi switch but in a big twist, he has now been connected with a move to a Premier League powerhouse.
Plus — a transfer promise for Ange Postecoglou at Tottenham?
Read on for the latest transfer rumours and news!
MANE TIPPED TO BE LATEST TO MAKE SAUDI SWITCH
Bayern Munich left Sadio Mane out of a friendly match in Tokyo, posting on social media: “Sadio Mane is in contract negotiations about a change of club and is therefore not in the line-up today.”
The 31-year-old former Liverpool star is expected to become the latest high profile player to join the cash-rich Saudi league.
As Bild and Kicker magazine reported Mane was on his way for a medical with Al Nassr, Bayern coach Thomas Tuchel declined to be drawn on the player’s future.
Bayern Munich announced Sadio Mane was in talks “about a change of club”. (Photo by Joe Klamar / AFP)Source: AFP
“We are still in the transfer window and I would like to see what’s going on and wait and see how things will happen,” he told reporters after Bayern’s 1-0 win over Kawasaki Frontale in Japan.
Mane would be another major signing for the club that pulled off the first coup of a raft of signings by Saudi clubs, luring Cristiano Ronaldo, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner.
Mane won the Champions League and Premier League in six seasons with Liverpool and was a key part of Jurgen Klopp’s devastating front three with Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino.
When Liverpool won their first English league title for 30 years in the pandemic-disrupted 2019-2020 season, Mane scored 18 goals.
But in the summer of 2022, when he won the African Player of the Year, Mane decided he wanted a new challenge — unconfirmed rumours said he had tired of sharing the limelight with Egypt’s Salah at Anfield.
Bayern made a big play for Mane, promising to make him the focal point of an attack which had just lost the services of Robert Lewandowski to Barcelona.
After a strong start to the season at Bayern, it soon became clear that Mane was not clicking in Bavaria.
Mane playing the ball during a press conference after he signed a three-year deal with Bayern Munich. (Photo by CHRISTOF STACHE / AFP)Source: AFP
In a Bundesliga game against Werder Bremen in November, Mane suffered an injury to his fibula and his season was put on hold.
The injury forced him to miss the World Cup in Qatar at the end of last year in a crushing blow to Senegal’s chances.
While Mane returned to the Bayern team in 2023, his problems were underlined when he became involved in a physical altercation with teammate Leroy Sane following a Champions League defeat to Manchester City.
Bayern reportedly fined Mane around 350,000 euros ($385,000) and gave him a one-match suspension for his part in the incident.
He ended the season with an underwhelming 12 goals in 38 games across all competitions.
He is set to quit Bayern with two years left on his contract. On the international stage, Mane helped Senegal to the Africa Cup of Nations title in 2022.
Apart from Ronaldo Al Nassr have also signed this summer Croatia midfielder Marcelo Brozovic, Brazil full-back Alex Telles and Ivory Coast midfielder Seko Fofana.
LIVERPOOL EMERGE AS MBAPPE CONTENDER AMID $498M SAUDI DRAMA
Elsewhere, while Kylian Mbappe has been heavily linked with a big-money move to Saudi Arabia he could instead end up signing with a Premier League giant.
That is according to the Mirror, who reports the Paris Saint-Germain striker could join Liverpool.
It comes after Mbappe refused to meet officials from Al Hilal, dealing a potentially fatal blow to the Saudis’ ambitious hopes of completing a world record 300-million-euro ($A498m) swoop.
That decision from Mbappe has left PSG “fuming” according to the Mirror, with Liverpool ready to strike and offer the 24-year-old superstar a one-year loan deal instead.
Kylian Mbappe has been linked to Liverpool. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP)Source: AFP
That would in turn allow Mbappe to leave Paris and later make his preferred move to Real Madrid while also helping alleviate PSG’s concerns that he could walk for free next year.
Riyadh-based Al Hilal had been given permission by PSG to open talks with Mbappe despite him never having expressed an interest in moving to the fast-growing Saudi league.
Mbappe has one year left on his contract with PSG, who want him to leave now rather than for nothing next summer.
But he is refusing to sign a new contract and the French champions believe he has already struck a deal to move to Real Madrid next year.
It is widely thought that Real hoped to pick up Mbappe for free next year, attracting him with a colossal signing fee because they would not have to pay PSG anything for his services.
The standoff between Mbappe and the French club reached a new peak last weekend when they dropped him from their squad to tour Japan and South Korea.
There have been suggestions that Mbappe would not be selected for an entire year if he fails to find a solution with PSG.
Mbappe has a big decision to make. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP)Source: AFP
Mbappe, the club’s all-time top scorer with 212 goals in 260 appearances, remains the second most expensive player in history behind his PSG teammate Neymar.
He was still a teenager when he joined PSG on a season-long loan from Monaco in August 2017.
The move turned into a permanent transfer the following year in a 180-million-euro deal.
That fee is exceeded only by Neymar, the Brazilian who cost PSG 222 million euros in 2017.
The third member of PSG’s superstar trio, Lionel Messi, left at the end of last season to join MLS franchise Inter Miami.
The trio could not prevent PSG being knocked out of the Champions League by Bayern Munich at the last 16 stage last season although they went on to clinch the French title.
Al Hilal are one of the handful of clubs owned by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF).
They have already signed central defender Kalidou Koulibaly from Chelsea and Ruben Neves from Wolves this summer.
POSTECOGLOU PROMISED ‘TOP-DRAWER’ PLAYERS FOR KEY POSITION
In other news, Ange Postecoglou wants to sign “at least one” new centre-back this summer and even if progress is slow it seems like he has been promised his wish.
That is according to transfer insider Dean Jones, who told Football Fancast that Postecoglou has been “assured he will have top-drawer players coming into the club in that position”.
“It’s not ideal to be this close to the new season and still have no new centre back through the door because at the moment, Spurs really do look like they might be a bit fragile in defence,” Jones said.
“But it will happen. It needs to change but as far as I am aware, Ange has been assured that he will have top-drawer players coming into the club in that position.
“By the end of the window, he will have two more defenders of very high quality to pick from. That’s what I am hearing. Tottenham are making sure they maintain talks with key targets in that sense and are confident the squad will be in a good place by the time the window closes.”
Ange Postecoglou may get his wish. (Photo by Roslan RAHMAN / AFP)Source: AFP
Postecoglou has been open about his desire to bolster the team’s centre-back stocks, telling reporters late last month it is “definitely our intention” to sign one before their Premier League season kicks off on August 13.
“We’ve been working on it for a while and we’ll definitely try to get it done as quickly as possible,” Postecoglou said.
Wolfsburg’s Micky van de Ven and Edmond Tapsoba of Bayer Leverkusen are two names that have been reported to be targets for Postecoglou and Tottenham.
A report from the Daily Express earlier in the week though claimed their hit list of potential centre-back options has been expanded by five players due to “complications” in talks for the pair.
