Real Madrid’s costliest regret: A dream transfer that turned into a €160 million nightmare | OneFootball

In a surprising revelation, Mundo Deportivo has reported that Real Madrid eventually paid an astonishing €160 million to Chelsea for the signing of Eden Hazard.

This hefty transfer fee far exceeds what was initially expected, and it highlights the way modern football transfers are handled.

In today’s world, it’s quite common for the initial figures clubs pay for transfers to balloon significantly, depending on various clauses and conditions.

When a player is signed, the amount paid upfront is rarely the final figure. Many transfers include performance-based clauses that can push the total cost much higher.

These clauses give the purchasing club the immediate opportunity to bring in the player, but if certain conditions are met, it results in additional payments.

The advantage for the club is that if these payments are triggered, it usually means the player has contributed positively to the team’s success on the pitch.

Hazard ended up being an overpaid expense

Eden Hazard cost Real Madrid €160 million. (Photo by OSCAR DEL POZO/AFP via Getty Images)

Hazard’s transfer to Real Madrid in 2019 is a prime example of this. The initial agreed fee for Hazard’s move from Chelsea to Madrid was €145 million.

However, Real Madrid ended up paying Chelsea an additional €15 million due to various clauses included in the contract, bringing the total amount to €160 million.

Despite this massive outlay, Hazard struggled to make a meaningful impact at the Spanish club. Injuries and inconsistent form have plagued his time at Real Madrid, and he has been unable to contribute significantly to their recent successes.

What makes this situation more notable is that Real Madrid won two Champions League titles since Hazard’s arrival, yet the Belgian winger played a very minimal role in those triumphs.

In fact, in the most recent Champions League victory, Hazard wasn’t even included in the squad. Despite his limited involvement, Real Madrid was still required to pay the full amount to Chelsea, as agreed in the contract.