What is a sell-on clause in football?
A sell-on clause gives a club that sells a player a share of the fee when the buying club sells him on. It is agreed in the transfer contract, usually as a percentage of the next fee or of the profit on it. It is allowed under FIFA's rules because a former club is not a third party.
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How it works
Club A sells a player to Club B and the transfer agreement gives Club A a percentage of any future fee Club B receives for him. When Club B sells, it pays Club A its share.
Common variations
| Type | What the selling club gets |
|---|---|
| Percentage of the next fee | A share of the whole fee on the next sale |
| Percentage of the profit | A share of the next fee minus what the buying club paid |
| Buy-back clause | The right to buy the player back for a set fee, often within a set time |
| Matching right | The right to match any offer for the player |
Why it matters to smaller clubs
A small club selling a young player for a modest fee can share in his later value. On top of any sell-on, training clubs can receive solidarity payments under FIFA's rules.
What to write down
- Fee or profit, and how profit is calculated.
- Whether it applies to loans with an obligation to buy, and to swaps.
- When payment is due, and how instalments are treated.
- What information the buying club must share.
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Questions people also ask
Is a sell-on clause third-party ownership?
No. FIFA's rules exclude previous clubs the player was registered with from the definition of a third party.
Does a sell-on apply to a free transfer?
Only if the clause says so, and a free transfer has no fee to share.