Man City begin 2025 transfer planning with £25m boost as clause triggered
by Joe Bray · Manchester Evening NewsManchester City's transfer budget will be boosted by £25m after clauses inserted into Yan Couto's loan at Borussia Dortmund were triggered to make the move permanent at the end of the season.
City agreed the loan move for Brazilian Couto in the summer after a series of loan spells saw him impress away from the Etihad - most recently at Girona last season where he helped them into the Champions League.
Couto, 22, signed for City from Curitiba in 2019 for an initial £5.5m, before he spent time on loan at Girona, Braga, and then Girona again for two seasons. He often expressed a desire to play for City under Pep Guardiola but only managed friendly appearances during his time at the club.
ALSO READ: 'If we don't' - Etihad boss breaks silence on Man City sponsorship deals after bombshell court case
A switch to Dortmund was agreed in the summer with an obligation to buy depending on certain sporting requirements being met. After seven appearances and just three starts, Couto is still adapting to life in the Bundesliga, but City have this week learned that the obligation to buy has now been triggered.
That means City will pocket around €30m (£25m) in the summer to kick-start their 2025 business, giving City a healthy £20m profit on a player who never featured in a competitive game. The Blues also have a substantial sell-on clause in the deal which could be as high as 20 per cent.
Couto's performances at Dortmund have been questioned in the early stages of his career at the Westfalenstadion, but they will hope he can rediscover the form that saw him notch 10 assists in La Liga last term, as well as earning a first of four caps for Brazil.
City can also expect up to £8m more next summer from PSV Eindhoven for winger Joel Ndala, who is on loan in Holland with an obligation to buy for £5.9m (€7m), potentially rising to £8.4m (€10m).