Manchester City set for seven-figure cash windfall through Olympique Marseille signing

Premier League champions Manchester City are set to earn a seven-figure sum through a sell-on clause embedded into the contract of Olympique Marseille’s newest signing.

As reported by transfer expert Fabrizio Romano on Tuesday, Olympique Marseille are set to unveil the signing of Ivan Ilić this week from Hellas Verona, with only the final documentation remaining.

The Ligue 1 club have agreed a transfer fee of €15 million plus add-ons for the 21 year-old midfielder, with the player set to join the club in June ahead of the 2023/24 season.

However, given the player’s history involving Manchester City and the City Football Group, the Premier League giants have a financial interest in the transfer courtesy of a sell-on clause embedded into his transfer to Serie A during the summer of 2021.

As reported at the time, Ivan Ilic made the switch to Hellas Verona for a fee in the region of £8.5 million. City officials during negotiations ensured that they would hold a 25% sell-on clause on the player, as well as having an option to buy him back.

While the latter clause is now void given the player’s agreement to join Olympique Marseille in France, it is the sell-on clause that is now an area of interest, with City officials set to take 25% of the reported €15 million transfer fee now agreed between the Italian and French clubs.

As such, Manchester City can expect to take in the region of €4 million from Ivan Ilic’s transfer from Hellas Verona to Olympique Marseille – further boosting their transfer fund for the upcoming summer window.

City are expected to be busy during the coming summer transfer window, with a number of areas within their first-team squad being evaluated for potential replenishment or improvement – namely the full-back and midfield positions.

Wide areas of the attacking line are also expected to be looked at, with Manchester City officials closely monitoring the performances of Rafael Leao at AC Milan as well as Khvicha Kvaratskhelia at Napoli.