Guéhi Secures Third Place
The dynamics of football are continually evolving, and a notable trend in today’s game is players allowing their contracts to run down. This strategy gives players leverage in negotiations for new contracts and can lead to substantial signing bonuses if they choose to pursue other opportunities. One of the most notable cases in recent years is Kylian Mbappé, who famously ran down his contract.
The French international left PSG on a free transfer to join Real Madrid, marking one of the longest transfer sagas in football history. Moreover, clubs frequently target players nearing the final year of their contracts in hopes of securing them at a reduced fee. Manchester City took advantage of Marc Guéhi’s contract with Crystal Palace, which expires at the end of the season, acquiring the England international for an initial fee of €23m—over €30m less than his market value. Considering Guéhi’s transfer, Transfermarkt has examined the highest fees ever paid for players with less than six months left on their contracts.
Guéhi’s transfer to Man City for a starting fee of €23m currently ranks as the third highest for a player in the final six months of their contract. If additional performance-related bonuses totaling €11.6m are achieved, Guéhi would become the most expensive player in this context, surpassing current record holder Alexis Sánchez. Manchester United infamously paid Arsenal €34m for Sánchez in 2018, but his tenure proved disappointing, with just five goals in 45 matches, making him one of the club’s least successful signings.
As shown in the graphic above, Christian Eriksen ranks second after Inter Milan secured him from Tottenham for €27m in 2020. It’s no surprise that Premier League clubs dominate the top ten list, contributing seven transfers, including Daniel Sturridge’s move from Chelsea to Liverpool. Additionally, Brahim Díaz, recently in the spotlight for missing a crucial penalty for Morocco in the AFCON final, is also featured for his transfer from Man City to Real Madrid for €17m back in 2019.
