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FourFourTwo
FourFourTwo
Sport
Joe Mewis

Football release clauses explained - what they mean, how they work and notable examples

Football FC Barcelona Antoine Semenyo Bruno Guimaraes Liverpool Manchester City Trent AlexanderArnold Real Madrid the Premier League
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - JANUARY 10: Antoine Semenyo of Manchester City during the Emirates FA Cup Third Round match between Manchester City and Exeter City on January 10, 2026 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images).

Release clauses have taken up a growing role in the world of football transfers in recent years.

They have previously been more common in European football than in England, with Spain having introduced them in 1985, but recent windows have seen plenty of transfer sagas built around release clauses.

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