news-engine

← rennes

Leeds set for seven-figure windfall as £24m Cresswell transfer confirmed

· Kyle Newbould · 2026-08-04 · nguồn gốc

Leeds United set for seven-figure windfall as £24m transfer of ex-youngster confirmed Leeds United will be entitled to a portion of any profit made on the transfer. Former Leeds United defender Charlie Cresswell insists the chance to play European football was behind his decision to join Stade Rennais. Cresswell left Leeds for FC Toulouse in a £3.8million deal in July 2024 after finding first-team football hard to come by under Daniel Farke. The 23-year-old’s stock has risen considerably in two years since, his now confirmed move to Rennes worth a reported €28m (£24m) in total. According to The Athletic’s David Ornstein, Creswell has initially moved on loan for a fee of €2.5m, while the Ligue 1 club have also committed to an obligation to buy worth €22.5m plus €3m add-ons and a 10 per cent sell-on clause. The former Leeds defender has signed at Rennes until 2031. Rennes finished sixth in Ligue 1 last season, three places and 14 points clear of Cresswell’s former club Toulouse and enough for a Europa League place. That opportunity to play on the continent certainly contributed to the defender’s decision to move. “There has been a lot of talk about my move to Rennes over the last few weeks,” Cresswell said following confirmation of his transfer. “It’s fantastic to have finally arrived here and seen this project come to fruition. “I am truly very happy. I spent two wonderful years in Toulouse - I couldn't have asked for better - but football moves in cycles, and the prospect of playing in Europe was a very compelling reason to make the move. “The club has an interesting project and, in my opinion, an excellent squad this year. I hope we will achieve great things.” Cresswell’s move to Rennes should see Leeds bank a seven-figure cash windfall. Upon selling the defender back in 2024, they inserted a sell-on clause entitling them to 15 per cent of any future profits. Toulouse haven’t yet made any profit on Cresswell, given he’s initially joined on loan for a fee below that £3.8m sale. But once next summer’s €22.5m obligation to buy is triggered, the total spend will sit at £21.4m - £17.6m of which is profit before any paid bonuses. In theory, Leeds should therefore be entitled to around £2.6m once that obligation to buy is triggered, an amount which could increase by a further £385,000 if all €3m (£2.57m) of potential add-ons are paid.