Celtic may be in line for a significant profit on Nicolas Kühn’s move to Serie A side Como, but the final figure heading to the Hoops reportedly won’t be quite as hefty as first thought.
Celtic are reportedly set to bank close to six times the £3 million they shelled out to sign Kühn from Rapid Vienna in January 2024. But under the rules of modern transfer business and FIFA’s solidarity payment structure, several of the winger’s former clubs are reportedly entitled to a slice of the deal.
Rapid Vienna are reportedly set to get the biggest cut outside of Celtic, with Austrian outlet Laola1 reporting they’ll receive around €1.6 million (£1.4 million) once Kühn’s transfer to Como goes through. The payout comes from a sell-on clause included in the deal that took the winger from Vienna to Glasgow.
Dutch side Ajax will also collect a payment. The Amsterdam club gave Kühn his start in senior football after signing him from RB Leipzig in 2018 for about £1.7 million. He didn’t make the first team, but played in their reserves, meaning Ajax qualify for a one-off FIFA payment of €200,000 (£172,449).
Even lower-league German outfit Erzgebirge Aue will see a small windfall. Kühn spent the 2021/22 season on loan there from Bayern Munich II, notching three goals in 27 appearances.
The club’s sporting director Matthias Heidrich confirmed to TAG24 that they are due €50,000 (£43,114) from the transfer. Heidrich described the money as a welcome financial boost for the 3. Bundesliga side.
Even with money going to other clubs, Celtic are still on course to make a strong profit on the Kühn deal, just 18 months after signing him. The German winger took a bit of time to get going in the Premiership, but showed enough promise for Como to push through a permanent move.
With the final details nearly done, everyone involved stands to gain, though Celtic won’t keep the full amount.
