Ewa Pajor to join Barcelona for mega fee following WSL snub | OneFootball

In November 2023, it was revealed that VfL Wolfsburg star Ewa Pajor had rejected offers from Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester United. The two clubs were reportedly ready to pay between €600,000–750,000 (£514–643k) for the striker’s signature.

Following recent speculation over her future, it has been announced that Pajor will become a Barcelona player at the end of the season. Earlier this week, German outlet Allgemeine Zeitung reported that the Poland international will sign for the European champions. Barca will fork out a record fee to get the deal over the line.

A record fee on the table

Joanna Tokarska, former Poland international and co-commentator of Polish TV, released the information from autumn. According to this report, Pajor’s release clause is to decrease to ‘about €500,000 (£428k)’ after the 2023/24 season. The amount of €500,000 was published earlier this month by WAZ, finally confirming the news from November and also highlighting Man United as the most probable direction.

However, as the Red Devils will not play in the Champions League next season, the link seemed unlikely. WAZ has now reported the transfer to Barcelona — the team that denied the UWCL trophy to Wolfsburg and Pajor in Eindhoven. Maria Tikas of Catalan outlet Sport backs the news, stating ‘nothing has been paid yet, but it’s more than probable’.

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While Barcelona are struggling with financial problems, which led to harsh negotiations with captain Alexia Putellas, as well as Lucy Bronze and Mariona Caldentey, the €500,000 seems quite an expense for the club. Lyon, still being the top club in Europe, have more to offer to Hegerberg than Wolfsburg to Pajor. The German side didn’t go through the UWCL qualifiers this season and are seven points behind Frauen-Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich. The sporting ambitions of Pajor seem to have taken an advantage over her heart.

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“Ewa loves Wolfsburg more than Wolfsburg loves Ewa,” said Joanna Tokarska in the TV studio after the Serbia vs Poland game, preceding her news about PSG and Manchester. Following the revelations of WAZ and Sport, she added, ‘the first talks with Ewa Pajor took place already in Eindhoven, after the UWCL final’.

The release clause also seems to be lower than the €500,000 reported by WAZ two weeks ago. Barcelona are still trying to lower it due to their own financial problems. If the €500,000 move goes ahead, it will be a record fee for the Frauen-Bundesliga.

Last chance to cash in for Wolfsburg

For Wolfsburg, it is the final chance to earn money on a Pajor transfer. The striker had a record clause of €1 million (£857,000) back in 2020, confirmed by VfL’s sporting director Ralf Kellermann. They extended her contract through to 2025, however, the release clause is getting lower with each season.

Pajor’s sentiment to the city in which she spent nine years, growing up both as a player and from a small town girl to a big football star, was surely undermined by Dominique Janssen and Lena Oberdorf leaving after this season. Being in a peak age for a football player — she will be just 28 in December — and seeing a dip at Wolfsburg, the move to another strong party which can give her the desired UWCL trophy was just a matter of time. And it seems, while still not officially, that time has now come.

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