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The Ten Highest Release Clauses In Football Revealed, All Of These Are Outrageous

The Ten Highest Release Clauses In Football Revealed, All Of These Are Outrageous

David Alaba is the highest new entry on the list, but who sits top?

James Hilsum

James Hilsum

The recent summer transfer window will be remembered for a number of incredibly eye-catching moves, with Cristiano Ronaldo's memorable homecoming at Old Trafford and Lionel Messi's switch to Paris Saint Germain being arguably the two most sensational switches.

The two modern-day GOATS of the game would have commanded obscene fees to uproot them from their respective clubs not so long ago, but Messi left his beloved Barcelona for nothing, while Ronaldo returned to Manchester United for an initial fee of just £12.86 million.

PSG's Kylian Mbappe celebrates his hat-trick during a Group A match of the 2019-2020 UEFA Champions League between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Club Brugge in Brugge, Belgium, Oct. 22, 2019.
PSG's Kylian Mbappe celebrates his hat-trick during a Group A match of the 2019-2020 UEFA Champions League between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Club Brugge in Brugge, Belgium, Oct. 22, 2019.

This sensational trend is set to continue, with PSG turning down bids of €160m and €180m from Real Madrid for Kylian Mbappe, which will allow the Frenchman to leave the club for free at the end of his contract next summer. It all highlights the need for clubs to tie down their prize assets to huge release clauses in order to warn off potential buyers.

With that in mind,Goal.com compiled this fascinating list of players with the top 10 release clauses in football that includes some incredible sums of money. Here is the list in full:

1. Karim Benzema - €1bn (£850m/$1.16bn)

2. David Alaba - €850m (£726m/$988m)

3. Antoine Griezmann - €800m ($683m/$930m)

4. = Federico Valverde - €750m (£641m/$872m)

4. = Luka Modric - €750m (£641m/$872m)

4. = Brahim Diaz - €750m (£641m/$872m)

7. = Marco Asensio - €700m (£598m/$814m)

7. = Vinicius Junior - €700m (£598m/$814m)

7. = Isco - €700m (£598m/$814m)

10. = Gareth Bale - €500m (£427m/$581m)

10. = Gerard Pique - €500m (£427m/$581m)

10. = Sergio Roberto - €500m (£427m/$581m)

David Alaba is the highest new entry on the list following his summer move to Real Madrid from Bayern Munich on a free transfer.

The Austria international won an astonishing 10 Bundesligas, two Champions Leagues, six German Cups and two Club World Cups in an incredibly successful spell with the Bavarian club.

Los Blancos president Florentino Pérez is seemingly eager to keep that winning pedigree at the Bernabéu by adding a whopping €850m (£726m/$988m) to his contract - propelling the midfielder up to second in the list.

Elsewhere, there is an interesting mix of youthful and experienced players in the top 10, including seasoned stalwarts like Luka Modric and Gerard Pique, with more modest release clauses of €750m and €500m respectively, while up-and-coming Real Madrid defender Federico Valverde is joint fourth on the list with Modric and Brahim Diaz, with the same clause of €750m.

But it is Karim Benzema who reigns supreme at the top of the list with a bank-breaking clause of €1bn.

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Topics: Manchester United, David Alaba, Barcelona, Federico Valverde, Gerard Pique, Karim Benzema, Bayern Munich, Paris Saint Germain, Real Madrid, Luka Modric