2 days ago
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The team that launched Alexander Isak's career is poised for a welcome financial windfall following the striker's transfer to Liverpool.
Following a protracted summer transfer pursuit, the Reds secured the services of the Sweden international after agreeing a $169 million package with Newcastle United. Isak has penned a six-year deal and will don the iconic No. 9 jersey at Anfield.
While the acquisition represents exceptional business for Liverpool, several of his previous teams will also reap rewards from the British record transaction, notably AIK Stockholm, where Isak began his journey before departing for Borussia Dortmund aged 17.
Despite Isak's subsequent spells at Real Sociedad and Newcastle, AIK remained eligible for a two per cent solidarity payment in recognition of their developmental role. This amounts to approximately $3.2M, a substantial figure given that AIK recently reported losses of roughly $3.8M for the January to June period this year.
Nevertheless, for AIK chief executive Fredrik Soderberg, this financial boost pales in comparison to the immense pride the organization feels regarding Isak's transfer to Liverpool, which commands enormous support across Scandinavia.
Soderberg told Sportbladet: "What it means for AIK is that we have a guy from our own youth football who has just broken the all-time transfer record and represents one of the world's biggest clubs.
"That is the most important payment for AIK tonight. The fact that we also receive solidarity compensation for the transfer is secondary in this context."
Meanwhile, Sociedad is entitled to 10 per cent of anything above £60.5m, plus two per cent via FIFA's Solidarity Programme, 0.5 per cent for every season he played for the Spanish team. Isak joined Sociedad in 2019 from Borussia Dortmund, spending three years in San Sebastian before signing for Newcastle in 2022. That brings Newcastle's total payment to the La Liga team to approximately £7m.
Meanwhile, Isak was delighted after finally completing his switch to Liverpool, telling the team website: "It's been a long journey to get here. But I'm super-happy to be a part of this team, this club and everything it stands for.
"It's something I'm proud of and I'm really looking forward to it. I'm just happy it's done and that I can get back to work. I'm looking forward to seeing my team-mates and the fans, and getting back out there."
Isak had been missing from the Newcastle squad since before their pre-season tour of Asia and claimed the Magpies had reneged on a promise that he could depart if an appropriate offer arrived from another team.
Newcastle, for whom he netted 54 times in 86 Premier League games, released a notably brief statement confirming Isak's exit for "a significant British record transfer fee."
Despite the last-minute collapse of Marc Guehi's move from Crystal Palace, the arrival of Isak capped an extraordinary transfer window for the Reds. The likes of Hugo Ekitike, Florian Wirtz, Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong have all put pen to paper since the close of last season.
Meanwhile, Liverpool finalized a deal that saw midfielder Harvey Elliott make a loan move to Aston Villa, with a mandatory purchase clause included. This addition to the Reds' player sales this summer, which already exceeded $265M, followed the exits of Luis Diaz, Darwin Nunez, Jarell Quansah, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Caoimhin Kelleher, Tyler Morton, Ben Gannon-Doak and Nat Phillips.
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