One Billion Euro Release Clause💰 💵: Can this be True?

On 2 October, Barcelona included a 1 Billion Euro 💵 release clause in the new contract with a young talented played named Lamine Yamal. 

Lamine shall now stay at the club until 2026. 

Who is Lamine Yamal?

Lamine Yamal Nasraoui Ebana was born on 10 July, 2007. He is currently only 16 years old. He was born in Barcelona, Spain to a Moroccan father, and a mother from Equatorial Guinea.

He spent his early years training at La Masia. This is  Barcelona's famous youth academy. 

A Young Player Breaking Records 

He was given the opportunity to train with the first team in September, 2022, and made his first team appearance on 29 April, 2023, after replacing Gavi in the 83rd minute in a game against Real Betis. 

Barcelona won the game 4 - 0.

He also made his first start for Barcelona in August, 2023, in 2 - 0 win against Cádiz, becoming Barca's youngest ever starter in the process. 

He became the youngest player to receive a call-up for Spain's senior men's team 🇪🇸 in a game against Georgia 🇬🇪. 

He was also the youngest player to score in a 7 - 1 victory in the EURO 2024 qualifier.

On 4th October, Lamine was the youngest player to start a Champions League game in a match between Barcelona v Porto. Barca won the game 1 - 0.

Image: Lamine Yamal playing in Champions League game against Porto

At 16 years and 63 days, he beats the previous record held by Celestine Babayaro of 16 years and 86 days, who was playing for Belgium club R. S. C. Anderlecht. 

The One Billion Euro Release Clause 

When taking into consideration what this Lamine has achieved at such an early age, it may not come as surprise that Barcelona wanted to protect this player from being lured to another club.  

On 2nd October, Lamine and Barcelona reached an agreement to extend his contract until 2026. In order to ensure that the player remains at the club, Barca inserted a 1 Billion Euro Release Clause in his contract. 

What Does This Mean for Barca?

Following the inclusion of the release clause, any club interested in signing Lamine (during the contract period) must first obtain the consent of Barcelona to approach the player. If the consent is provided, the club interested in signing him would have to persuade Lamine (through his Representative) to join their club. If Lamine agreed, the buying club would active the Release Clause by paying Barcelona handsomely for the player. 

This would ensure that Barcelona are adequately compensated for the time and resources spent training the player.

Is this the first 1 Billion Euro 💵 Release Clause?

In fact, Lamine is the tenth Barcelona player with a €1 Billion release clause inserted in the player - club contract to protect their players from being approached or even poached. The other players are:

📝 Alejandro Balde (contract until 2028), 

📝 Ferran Torres (2027), 

📝 Raphinha (2027), 

📝 Jules Kounde (2027), 

📝 Pedri (2026), 

📝 Ronald Araujo (2026), 

📝 Gavi (2026), 

📝 Darvich (in the reserve team and under contract until 2027)

📝Ansu Fati (currently on loan with Brighton).

Maybe we'll see the first €1 Billion Euros paid for a player soon. What do you think?

If you have any comments, let us know in the comments section.

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