Manchester United Generate £21.2M from Smart Transfer Clauses and Sancho Fee Windfall
Manchester United have bolstered their summer finances by an impressive £21.2 million, thanks not to player sales alone, but through a series of strategically embedded sell-on clauses and a key termination fee — showcasing the club’s long-term planning in past transfer dealings.
£5 million – Jadon Sancho Termination Fee from Chelsea
As part of the ongoing negotiations involving Jadon Sancho’s potential departure, Chelsea have agreed to pay Manchester United a £5 million termination clause. This amount compensates United for early termination-related conditions tied to previous agreements. While Sancho continues to be linked with an exit, this payment is a financial boost in the short term.
£7.6 million – Álvaro Carreras Sell-on Clause (Benfica to Real Madrid)
One of the most valuable pieces of business this summer comes from Álvaro Carreras’ transfer to Real Madrid. The young Spanish full-back was initially sold to Benfica, but United had wisely inserted a sell-on clause entitling them to a cut of any future profit on his sale. Following his big-money move to the Santiago Bernabéu, United are now set to earn £7.6 million without having to make any new moves on their end.
£6 million – Anthony Elanga Sell-on Clause
Former academy graduate Anthony Elanga, who joined Nottingham Forest in 2023, has now moved on to a new club. Manchester United had retained a sell-on percentage, and as a result of Elanga’s latest transfer, they will now pocket a £6 million fee. This is yet another example of the club benefiting from youth development even after a player’s departure.
£2.6 million – Maxi Oyedele Sell-on Clause
Another youth product, Maxi Oyedele, who left United’s academy for Warta Poznań, has now made a step forward in his career with a transfer that triggers yet another sell-on clause. United are due to receive £2.6 million from this deal — a notable sum considering Oyedele didn’t make a senior appearance for the first team.
Grand Total: £21.2 million
In a transfer window where Manchester United are working with a constrained budget amid ongoing squad restructuring, this unexpected revenue provides a timely financial cushion. It also underlines the club’s growing emphasis on smart contract structuring — ensuring that even players who leave Old Trafford can still contribute financially to the club’s future.
