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Top Five Release Clauses in World Football

By: , July 19, 2019 2:18 pm
Credit – Getty Images Japan

When a soccer player sign a contract with a club, his annual fees are decided. At the same time, the club and the player sometimes agree also on the release clause fee. This is the amount that another club needs to pay if they wish to acquire the services of a player under contract. 

If the release clause full amount is paid, the player can resign from his club regardless of the club’s intention.

Sometimes the release clause is settled is a way to easily permit the player to transfer also in other clubs. But in some cases, clubs can use the release clauses to secure the long-term future of a particular player. 

In this article, we will introduce you to the Top 5 most expensive release clauses in world football, with these players who are unlikely to move anywhere. 

Number 1
Name: Karim Benzema
Club: Real Madrid
Release Clause: €1 billion
In the first position, we have the France National Team forward Karim Benzema.

All the five players on this ranking belong to La Liga, and specifically, they are all Real Madrid and Barcelona players. This seems to to be not a coincidence and may be influenced by the Spanish tax system. 

Money exchange between two clubs is obviously considered as a commercial activity so taxes are imposed. The tax rate in Spain is incredibly high, 21%.

But there is an exception regarding release clause fees as payments that are not considerate taxable by the government.

So, Spanish clubs raise the clause fees in front of the taxes they will need to pay on the annual profits. 

Number 5
Name: Lionel Messi
Club: Barcelona
Release Clause: €700 million
In the 5th position, we have one of the most important players of the current football world, Lionel Messi.
For a player who has won Ballon d'Or 5 times is not so strange to have such a huge release clause.
Number 4
Name: Brahim Diaz
Club: Real Madrid
Release Clause: €750 million
We have two players with the same release clause in this ranking.

The first player is one who joined Real Madrid from Manchester City this summer, Brahim Diaz.

Without a doubt, Diaz has the potential to become a top-class player. However, such a high release clause for this player is surprising.

Number 3
Name: Luka Modric
Club: Real Madrid
Release Clause: €750 million
In the same position, we find the last Ballon d'Or winner, Luka Modric.

Even with this high release clause, there are some rumors about a possible transfer soon.

Maybe Real Madrid have some plans to let him go somewhere?

Number 2
Name: Antoine Griezmann
Club: Barcelona
Release Clause: €800 million
When Griezmann was an Atletico Madrid player his release clause was €120m.

Now,  after his transfer to Barcelona the fee is raised at €800m, almost 6.5 times the previous one. 

With this change, he is able to raise at the second place on this ranking.

Number 1
Name: Karim Benzema
Club: Real Madrid
Release Clause: €1 billion
In the first position, we have the France National Team forward Karim Benzema.

All the five players on this ranking belong to La Liga, and specifically, they are all Real Madrid and Barcelona players. This seems to to be not a coincidence and may be influenced by the Spanish tax system. 

Money exchange between two clubs is obviously considered as a commercial activity so taxes are imposed. The tax rate in Spain is incredibly high, 21%.

But there is an exception regarding release clause fees as payments that are not considerate taxable by the government.

So, Spanish clubs raise the clause fees in front of the taxes they will need to pay on the annual profits. 

Number 5
Name: Lionel Messi
Club: Barcelona
Release Clause: €700 million
In the 5th position, we have one of the most important players of the current football world, Lionel Messi.
For a player who has won Ballon d'Or 5 times is not so strange to have such a huge release clause.
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