ASTON VILLA TO MAKE £6.5M PROFIT SELLING JADEN PHILOGENE JUST SIX MONTHS AFTER SIGNING HIM
Aston Villa have agreed a £20 million deal for Jaden Philogene to join Ipswich Town – a move that will earn them a clear profit – after exercising a buy-back option for the forward six months ago.
After a season at Hull City, the 22-year-old was brought back to Villa Park in the summer, after Ipswich had made an initial move to sign him following their promotion to the Premier League.
However, under the terms of his Hull move, Villa had “matching rights” for his next transfer. They matched Ipswich’s £18 million offer and Philogene returned to the club where he had come through the academy. With a 30 per cent sell-on clause also in place, Villa’s outlay for his return was £13.5million.
After half a season in Unai Emery’s squad for Philogene, and 15 appearances, Ipswich have retained their interest, and have moved to sign him to help Kieran McKenna’s side’s fight for survival.
By activating the buy-back clause, Villa have made a profit on the player within six months.
Are buy-back clauses common?
Seen very much as a European way of doing business, buy-backs are increasingly becoming part of the Premier League transfer landscape, with clubs able to protect themselves, to a degree, against a young player leaving and his value soaring elsewhere.
Manchester United have been inserting buy-back clauses when young players have left the club recently. For instance, when Hannibal Mejbri moved to Burnley, a set-fee buy-back clause and “matching rights” for his next transfer were included in the deal. Similarly, Will Fish’s move to Cardiff City prompted United to negotiate a buy-back clause and a 30 per cent sell-on clause.
Manchester City put a buy-back clause into the deal that took Liam Delap to Ipswich in the summer, with his form putting other clubs on alert for a potential summer move. Chelsea have also used these clauses in the past, notably when Nathan Ake moved to Bournemouth, which was not activated, and Tammy Abraham left for Roma.
Sometimes the buy-back clauses are for a limited period. United’s option on Facundo Pellistri, who has moved to Panathinaikos in Greece, lasts for three years. Interestingly, Villa also had Cameron Archer return to the club in the summer when Sheffield United were relegated, before he moved to Southampton in August.
What are the benefits?
Fifa has limited the number of players a club can send out on loan, which is the traditional way for youngsters to get senior football under their belt. There are no longer “loan armies” of young players, but this is a way for clubs to retain some control of the talent they have nurtured.
The Premier League’s profitability and sustainability rules (PSR) mean that selling academy players is “pure profit” and a huge PSR win for clubs, with the buy-back clause giving them flexibility for the future.
Man City eye Brazilian defender
Manchester City are in talks over a deal worth more than £30 million for Brazilian centre-back Vitor Reis, with Palmeiras wanting the 18-year-old loaned back to them for the rest of the season.
City have been looking at young centre-backs to bolster Pep Guardiola’s back line with one eye on the future, having already targeted Lens defender Abdukodir Khusanov during the January window.
Reis has broken into the Palmeiras first team and is thought to have a huge release clause, although City will attempt to land him in a deal worth upwards of £30 million. They agreed to loan Claudio Echeverri, 19, back to River Plate for the past year after a deal was completed the previous January.
Leeds keen on Middlesbrough striker
Leeds United have a firm interest in Middlesbrough striker Emmanuel Latte Lath, should a striker leave Elland Road this January.
Latte Lath, 26, has reached double figures for goals this season for Michael Carrick’s side and has also attracted interest from Leicester City..
2025-01-09T19:28:46Z