Surprise record transfer
Ricardo Pepi will not join Bundesliga side VfL Wolfsburg. Instead, Fabrizio Romano reported that the 18-year-old FC Dallas striker is now on his way to FC Augsburg. Pepi, who scored 13 goals in 31 MLS games last season, is expected to arrive on Sunday to complete his medical. The Fuggerstädter will pay $20 million, plus bonuses. The transfer makes Pepi the most expensive outgoing MLS homegrown player, breaking a record set by Bayern Munich star Alphonso Davies in 2019. Pepi will also become the second most expensive outgoing transfer in MLS history (overview).
Reynolds, Tessmann, Richards & Co.: FC Dallas record sales
Thiago Santos | To Grêmio in 2021 | Fee: $1.1m
© imago images
Chris Richards | To Bayern Munich in 2019 | Fee: $1.21m
© imago images
Juan Carlos Toja | To Steaua Bukarest in 2008 | Fee: $1.65m
© imago images
Anton Nedyalkov | To Ludogorets in 2018 | Fee: $2.2m
© imago images
Reggie Cannon | To Boavista in 2020 | Fee: 2.75m
© imago images
Fabián Castillo | To Trabzonspor in 2017 | Fee: $3m
© imago images
Loan fee and transfer fee combined.
Brek Shea | To Stoke City in 2013 | Fee: $3.3m
© imago images
Tanner Tessmann | To Venezia FC in 2021 | Fee: $4m
© imago images
Carlos Gruezo | To FC Augsburg in 2019 | Fee: $4.4m
© imago images
Bryan Reynolds | To AS Roma in 2021 | Fee: $7.43m
© imago images
Previously on loan
For Augsburg, it is also a record deal. The Bundesliga club’s previous transfer record was $11.55 million, which the club paid for RB Salzburg defender Martin Hinteregger in the 2016/17 season (overview). Once bonuses are added, the Pepi deal will double the previous record, and it is also significantly more than what Wolfsburg was willing to pay. According to Transfermarkt information, Pepi had everything agreed with Wolfsburg before Augsburg hijacked a potential €10 million ($11m) deal.
It is a surprising transfer. Augsburg on their own do not have the means to complete the deal. But according to the Süddeutsche Zeitung the club the club’s main investor Hofmanns Investoren GmbH, which owns 99.4% of the FC Augsburg GmbH sold 45% of their shares to American investor David S. Blitzer last spring. Blitzer is a private equity investor and is a co-managing partner and minority owner of several sports teams including Premier League side Crystal Palace. Augsburg were hit hard by COVID-19 and the lack of spectators over the last two seasons and could not have made the deal without external investment.
Martínez, Mukhtar, Pepi & Co. – The 25 most valuable MLS players
Santiago Sosa | Atlanta United | Market value: $6.6m
© Concacaf
Cole Bassett | Colorado Rapids | Market value: $6.6m
© imago images
Efraín Álvarez | Los Angeles Galaxy | Market value: $6.6m
© imago images
Hany Mukhtar | Nashville SC | Market value: $7.15m
© imago images
Ryan Gauld | Vancouver Whitecaps | Market value: $7.15m
© imago images
José Cifuentes | Los Angeles FC | Market value: $7.15m
© imago images
Carles Gil | New England Revolution | Market value: $7.7m
© Matthew Stith/MLS
Adam Buksa | New England Revolution | Market value: $7.7m
© imago images
Yeferson Soteldo | Toronto FC | Market value: $7.7m
© imago images
Valentín Castellanos | New York City FC | Market value: $7.7m
© imago images
Brenner | FC Cincinnati | Market value: $7.7m
© imago images
Talles Magno | New York City FC | Market value: $7.7m
© imago images
Dániel Sallói | Sporting Kansas City | Market value: $8.25m
© imago images
Raúl Ruidíaz | Seattle Sounders | Market value; $8.8m
© imago images
Alan Pulido | Sporting Kansas City | Market value: $8.8m
© Sporting Kansas City
Alejandro Pozuelo | Toronto FC | Market value: $8.8m
© imago images
Lucas Zelarayán | Columbus Crew | Market value: $8.8m
© imago images
Marcelino Moreno | Atlanta United | Market value: $8.8m
© imago images
Ricardo Pepi | FC Dallas | Market value: $ 8.8m
© imago images
Tajon Buchanan | New England Revolution | Market value: $9.35m
© imago images
Luiz Araujo | Atlanta United | Market value: $11m
© imago images
Emmanuel Reynoso | Minnesota United | Market value: $11m
© imago images
Ezequiel Barco | Atlanta United | Market value: $11m
© imago images
Daryl Dike | Orlando City | Market value: $11m
© imago images
Josef Martínez | Atlanta United | Market value: $13.75m
© imago images
Homepage
Source link
