Release clauses are commonplace in football contracts, a pre-determined transfer fee that allows players to leave without having to kick up a fuss.
Some hugely attractive release clauses will become active across Europe’s top five leagues in the summer and we’ve looked at five talents we believe will attract considerable interest.
Five football release clauses we expect to be triggered this summer:
Martin Zubimendi (Real Sociedad)
Spanish football requires release clauses in contracts and that rule could see Real Sociedad stripped of their midfield metronome this summer. Martin Zubimendi has earned admiring glances from Europe’s top clubs since coming through the ranks in San Sebastián and helped Sociedad to Champions League qualification last season.
La Real look unlikely to reach the Champions League again this time around, however, and the 25-year-old might feel now is the time to take on a new challenge after 186 appearances for his hometown club.
Mikel Arteta is believed to be keen to bring his compatriot to Arsenal, as the Gunners seek a signing to complement Declan Rice at the base of the midfield. Liverpool and Bayern Munich are also admirers, though interest could depend on who is appointed as head coach at each club in the summer. Zubimendi’s release clause at the Anoeta Stadium is €60m (£51.2m).
Michael Olise (Crystal Palace)
Michael Olise snubbed interest from Chelsea to sign a new contract at Crystal Palace last summer with the winger keen to continue his development at Selhurst Park.
The new deal contained the inclusion of an unspecified release clause, though the figure is understood to be higher than the previous £35m sum that Chelsea activated.
Olise has had another productive, if injury-hit, season with the Eagles. He has six goals and three assists from nine league starts and, at 22, is a talent with a high ceiling. Last season, Olise set a club record for assists in a Premier League campaign (11), the fourth-highest total in the division, and a level of performance that earned him the Eagles’ Player of the Year award.
Unashamedly ambitious and with a desire to break into the French fold, he could depart if a top club comes calling.
Victor Osimhen (Napoli)
Victor Osimhen’s rollercoaster ride at Napoli could come to an end in the summer after a disappointing defence of the Scudetto.
Osimhen was named Serie A Footballer of the Year after finishing as the league’s top scorer with 26 goals to help Napoli win a first Serie A title in 33 years last season. The club’s title defence has proven to be disastrous with the Italian champions on their third manager of the campaign in Francesco Calzona, while Osimhen was at the centre of a fall-out with the club after a bizarre TikTok post mocking the Nigerian.
???????????????? ???????????????? by Victor Osimhen was peak Super Eagle energy ????????????#MonzaNapoli | @en_sscnapoli pic.twitter.com/hIBWhKgQ0W
— Lega Serie A (@SerieA_EN) April 8, 2024
All roads appear to lead to the end of his time in Naples, after 74 goals in 128 games. Paris Saint-Germain – in the market for a Kylian Mbappe replacement – have been linked, as have several of the Premier League’s ‘Big Six’.
A release clause of around (£111m) would represent a Serie A record sale.
Jeremie Frimpong (Bayer Leverkusen)
Bayer Leverkusen have been one of the stories of the season after winning the Bundesliga title for the first time.
Xabi Alonso’s impressive outfit has wrapped up the title with five games to spare and are unbeaten in all 43 games across all competitions this season.
Jeremie Frimpong has been one of the stars of the side in an effective wing-back partnership with Alejandro Grimaldo. The ex-Manchester City youngster has 12 goals and 11 assists in 38 appearances in 2023/24 and boasts a release clause of just €40m (£34m) at the BayArena.
HANG IT IN THE LOUVRE! ????️#Winnerkusen #DeutscherMeisterSVB @JeremieFrimpong pic.twitter.com/AWbowAgy4U
— Bayer 04 Leverkusen (@bayer04_en) April 14, 2024
For that level of output, that fee appears a bargain. The newly-crowned German champions should brace for approaches.
The games that defined Leverkusen’s Bundesliga title success
Bernardo Silva (Manchester City)
Bernardo Silva has made clear his desire for a new challenge in recent seasons, though Pep Guardiola has refused to let the influential midfielder leave.
However, the release clause in the Portugal international’s contract will be active this summer and Bernardo might feel now is the time to leave Manchester City after seven decorated seasons. The 29-year-old is understood to be keen to move closer to his family ties, while international teammate Joao Felix has spoken openly about his determination to persuade the midfielder to Barcelona.
“This team is very hungry for more”
Bernardo Silva says Man City are eager to relive the thrill of winning the Premier League and Champions League last season ????#UCL pic.twitter.com/mgX5WG70QN
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 17, 2024
Paris Saint-Germain are also long-term admirers.
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