Man Utd transfer clauses could bank them millions off Mason Greenwood | Football | Sport
The January transfer window has been open for 10 days and Manchester United are set to have a bustling month, particularly following the recent dismissal of head coach Ruben Amorim. In addition to generating funds from player sales during this window, United are also set to profit from special clauses included in the contracts of former players.
They’ve already seen returns from Anthony Elanga, Alvaro Fernandez and Maxi Odeyele, as well as other transfer-related clauses. Chelsea paid United £5m to cancel their obligation to buy Jadon Sancho, while Marseille paid another £5m for securing Champions League football with Mason Greenwood in their squad, resulting in them purchasing an additional 10 per cent of his economic rights.
The total income from these three transfers and the Sancho and Greenwood deals amounts to a staggering £25.6m. However, United could be set to earn even more in the future.
They’ve included a hefty 40 per cent sell-on clause in Greenwood’s contract, meaning they’ll receive nearly half of any future sale fee if Marseille decide to sell him.
After being loaned to Getafe for the 2023/2024 season, he never donned the United jersey again and eventually signed a permanent contract with Marseille, where his performances have been impressive.
Scott McTominay, currently enjoying a career-high spell at Napoli, parted ways with United in August 2024. The Red Devils smartly included a 10 per cent sell-on clause in his contract, which could yield significant returns given McTominay’s stature in the game.
Zidane Iqbal, another former United player now showcasing his skills at Utrecht in the Netherlands, has a hefty 40 per cent sell-on clause attached to his deal.
Highly-touted youngster Hannibal Mejbri, who moved to Burnley in 2024, has an even more substantial 50 per cent sell-on clause in his agreement.
It’s likely that similar clauses are embedded in other contracts, positioning United to potentially rake in substantial revenue over the next few transfer windows, particularly if these players command high transfer fees.
Should Kobbie Mainoo and Joshua Zirkzee decide to seek pastures new in the January window, it would be prudent for United to incorporate sizeable sell-on clauses in their contracts, especially for Mainoo, whose immense potential is undeniable.
