With SuperSport United reportedly scrambling to convince defender Ime Okon to sign a contract extension, this website reveals how they could still make money even if they lose him for free.
Okon will be out of contract at the end of June and, amidst relegation worries, SuperSport have not managed to convince the South African-born Nigerian defender to extend his contract.
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In fact, the 21-year-old had seemingly successful trials at Danish giants Midtjylland last year but ultimately could not make a move, as per sources, allegedly due the UEFA Champions League club not agreeing on transfer fee expectations by Matsatsantsa, as the player still had one year to run on his deal.
Okon had another trial stint at Ukraine powerhouse Dynamo Kiev earlier this season and has also not been able to find greener pastures, even though the Tshwane club are well aware that his current contract is expiring on 30 June 2025.
His representatives could be anticipating the freedom to market the lanky defender as a free agent from 1 July, hence the dragging of feet to renew at the relegation-threatened side.
However, all is not lost for SuperSport in making money out of Okon, as FIFA's training compensation and solidarity mechanisms make them eligible to claim money from transfer fees, should he move abroad, even as a free agent.
According to Article 20 of the FIFA Regulations of the Status and Transfer of Players (RSTP), training compensation has to be paid out to clubs who developed a player each time a professional player is transferred before his 23rd birthday.
As per the regulations, the training compensation costs are calculated annually, from the player's 12th birthday or from any age from 12 years old, during which he was developed.
FIFA has a recommended maximum of $30, 000 (R556, 000) annual calculation, according to category II allocated to clubs in the CAF region (multiplied by number of years developed).
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In addition, they are also entitled to a solidarity payment, where they can still negotiate a percentage of a transfer fee paid to them (similar to a sell-on fee) as part of the training compensation, whenever the player is transferred internationally before his 23rd birthday, even if he leaves on a free.
