Jean-Kevin Augustin payment is ‘huge financial blow’ to Leeds United
Leeds United has been hit with a “huge financial blow” after a ruling ordered their former player Jean-Kevin Augustin to receive a payout of £24.5 million, as featured in the Daily Star.
The newspaper has reported that the club has effectively been ordered to pay £8million for every game that the infamous flop featured in.
Leeds has been found to have breached Augustin’s contract with this protracted saga sounding as a warning to other clubs on the perils of transfer disputes.
In his piece for the Star, Justin Lawrence stated, “Jean-Kevin Augustin joined Leeds on loan from RB Leipzig in 2020 as they pushed for promotion to the Premier League.
“The Whites included an option to buy clause into the loan deal, and a stipulation that required them to pay Leipzig £18m if they were promoted – which they were at the end of the season.
But Leeds seemingly reneged on the deal as Augustin only made three appearances and was shipped off to Nantes before Marcelo Bielsa led them to the Premier League.”
Doomed to failure
Leeds have appealed the decision made by FIFA’s Dispute Resolution Chamber, on the situation involving Augustin in who featured for a meagre 48 minutes for the Whites over three games.
Augustin was signed on loan from RB Leipzig in January 2020, with an obligation to buy for £18million if they won promotion to the Premier League that season, which was achieved.
The decision of Elland Road chiefs to rip-up the agreement with the player as well as RB Leipzig has proven to be a fatal flaw. Even without hindsight, this was a decision that was doomed to failure. Clubs cannot just ignore their obligations, once agreed, in the way that Leeds have done over Augustin.
There has to be accountability and responsibility taken over this sorry mess, even with the appeal lodged but at this stage that appears unlikely to have a positive outcome.
On top of the £18 million settlement with the Bundesliga side, this ruling on Augustin’s contract will have financial consequences moving forward, with a probable impact on the squad budget.
Just when you thought it couldn’t get any worst.
In other Leeds United news, Andrea Radrizzani and Victor Orta have made yet another critical error after news emerging this week.