Leeds United forced to pay £18 million in nightmare transfer deal gone wrong

Leeds United may be forced to play up £18.4m for a failed signing back in 2020.

The Yorkshire side saw their appeal against the transfer of Jean-Kevin Augustin dismissed by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas) on Friday.

Originally, the striker was signed on loan from RB Leipzig in 2020, but during an injury hit spell, he could only manage three appearances.

Augustin, 25, then joined the club for a fee around €21m in July 2020, but left on a free just months later, as he made the move to Nantes in Ligue 1.

Despite that nightmare situation, it's only gotten worse as it's been revealed that they will be forced to pay a significant fee to Leipzig after seeing their appeal dismissed.

Leeds secured promotion to the Premier League at the end of that season but were quick to dispute whether their obligation to buy for Augustin was still valid, given the campaign having been severely disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

FIFA ruled in June that the club had to honour the clause, which left them with no choice but lodge an appeal with Cas, who have since upheld the decision by football's biggest governing body.

Leeds released a statement following the news: Leeds United are surprised and disappointed by the Court of Arbitration for Sport's decision," read the statement. "[It] not only contradicts the language and meaning of the contract but also the practices adopted in European football under FIFA regulations, due to the unique impact of the extensions to the season necessitated by Covid postponements.

"The club will now review carefully all of its legal options with a view to an immediate appeal."

Leeds United manager Jesse Marsch celebrates following the Premier League match at Elland Roa, Leeds. (Alamy)d

Former manager Marcelo Bielsa was guilty of making the signing, although it's hard to understand the reasoning behind the signing of the forward, given he had only scored 1 in 16 in the 2019/20 season and 8 in 30 in the 2018/19 season.

Following his move to France, he struggled again for regular football and only managed 126 minutes in two years.

Currently, Augustin plays his football in Switzerland with Basel FC, but this season has only seen three goals in nine appearances in all competitions.

Now manager Jesse Marsch and the club of paying for the mistakes of the past.