Zirkzee to Man Utd: Four other Serie A stars with eye-catching release clauses

Carlo Garganese

• Updated: 14 Jul 2024 16:38 BST
• 4 min read

Joshua Zirkzee leads a group of four Serie A stars with eye-catching release clauses this summer.

Zirkzee has joined Manchester United, it was announced on Sunday, marking the first signing of the summer window for the Red Devils.

Milan has previously agreed personal terms and were happy to pay that fee but the deal was held up by the €15m in commission being demanded by Zirkzee’s agent Kia Joorabchian.

READ MORE: Premier League summer transfers 2024: All the Done Deals

This allowed Man Utd to enter the race for Zirkzee, with the Red Devils agreeing a contract with Zirkzee until 2029.

Paulo Dybala is another potential bargain. The Roma attacker has a release clause valid for foreign clubs of just €12m.

READ MORE: European Golden Shoe 2023/24: Who is Europe’s leading striker?

The clause will expire at the end of July as Dybala runs into the final year of his Roma contract.

The Argentine interests a number of Premier League clubs, including Man Utd, while Barcelona are also fans. He could yet sign a new contract at Roma, though.

Victor Osimhen and Rafa Leao high release clauses

Victor Osimhen was Serie A top scorer during Napoli’s 2022-23 Scudetto-winning season.

The Nigerian has been promised a transfer this summer and has a release clause of €130m.

That price tag has scared off a number of interested clubs such as Chelsea, Arsenal and PSG but he is still expected to move this summer, probably for a smaller fee.

Rafael Leao has an even bigger release clause at a massive €175m at AC Milan.

Leao is expected to stay at Milan this summer, with fellow big guns Theo Hernandez and Mike Maignan more open to possibly leaving.

Leao’s Milan teammate Ismael Bennacer also has a release clause, this time at €50m. The Algerian midfielder has struggled with injury and form the last two years and is unlikely to command such a fee.

Inter’s Marcus Thuram has a release clause of €95m. The France attacker enjoyed a fantastic first season at San Siro after joining on a free transfer from Borussia Monchengladbach. There is interest from PSG but Thuram is also expected to probably stay at Inter.