adminWhile it may seem that Newcastle United holds all the cards in the Alexander Isak transfer saga, a little-known FIFA rule, Article 17 of the Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players, could give the player a powerful way to force a move to Liverpool.
Article 17: The “Just Cause” Loophole 📜
Article 17 was first introduced to protect players and ensure fair labor practices within the football world. It allows a player to unilaterally terminate their contract without “just cause” if a certain period, known as the “protected period,” has passed. For a player under the age of 28 when they signed their contract, this protected period is three years. Since Alexander Isak joined Newcastle in 2022 at the age of 22, he has now completed three full seasons with the club and is in a position to invoke this rule.
This clause essentially gives a player leverage by allowing them to leave their club if they choose to, regardless of how much time is left on their contract. In Isak’s case, he has three years remaining on his deal, but by invoking Article 17, he could become a free agent in the summer of 2026. This would make Newcastle powerless to stop him from joining a club like Liverpool.
The Consequences for Newcastle 💸
Although Isak would become a “free agent,” this doesn’t mean Newcastle would receive nothing. The rule stipulates that the player and the new club would have to pay compensation to the old club. However, the amount is often significantly less than a traditional transfer fee. It’s a calculated risk for the player and their new club, but it avoids the need to negotiate a deal with the selling club. In Isak’s case, Liverpool has reportedly offered £110 million, a sum Newcastle has rejected, demanding closer to £150 million. If Isak were to invoke Article 17, the compensation could be as little as half of the £110 million offer, a major financial blow for the Magpies.
Furthermore, the legal process for determining compensation can be lengthy, often taking 18 to 24 months. During this time, Isak would be free to play for his new club. This means Newcastle could lose their star player and be left waiting for an uncertain amount of compensation. The threat of this scenario provides Isak with significant leverage. It could pressure Newcastle into accepting a lower, but still substantial, offer from Liverpool this summer rather than risk losing him for a much smaller fee and a long legal battle next year. This is why a once “little-known” rule is at the forefront of this high-stakes transfer saga. 💰
Isak keeps apart from Newcastle squad amid statement
This video provides an update on the Alexander Isak transfer situation, showing him training separately from the Newcastle squad amid the ongoing transfer saga.
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Eddy