The 19 Most Absurd Clauses Ever Seen in Football Contracts
Football isn’t just about goals, trophies, and sold-out stadiums. Sometimes, what goes on behind closed doors is even more fascinating — and downright bizarre. From cooking lessons to private jets, here are 19 of the strangest clauses ever inserted into football contracts.
Lionel Messi – Catalonia Clause
When Lionel Messi signed one of the richest contracts in sports history with Barcelona, he agreed to integrate into Catalan society, including learning the Catalan language. Even more bizarre, the deal stated he could leave for free if Catalonia ever became independent. Messi embraced the club’s wish to make him not just their greatest player, but a true man of the city.
Cristiano Ronaldo – €1 Billion Release Clause
Real Madrid slapped a jaw-dropping €1 billion release clause on Cristiano Ronaldo’s contract. It was less about expecting anyone to pay it and more about ensuring no club could lure him away without negotiations. President Florentino Pérez made it clear these clauses were never meant to be triggered.
Neymar – Visiting Friends Clause
When Barcelona signed Neymar, they wanted to keep homesickness at bay. So they agreed to fly his close group of Brazilian friends, known as “The TIOSS,” to Spain every two weeks — all expenses paid. Keeping Neymar happy off the pitch clearly paid dividends on it.
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Keisuke Honda – Armored Car Clause
Japanese star Keisuke Honda demanded an armored vehicle when joining Brazilian side Botafogo, fearing the crime rates in Rio de Janeiro. The club obliged, hoping the precaution would let him focus on football. Still, Honda left after less than a year.
Radamel Falcao – Dodgy Knee Clause
Manchester United worried about Radamel Falcao’s injury-prone knees when signing him on loan. So they cleverly inserted a clause allowing them to end the deal without financial penalties if his knee issues flared up again. After only four goals in 29 games, they opted not to buy him permanently.
Stefan Schwarz – Space Travel Clause
In 1999, Sunderland included a clause preventing Swedish midfielder Stefan Schwarz from going to space. One of his advisers had already booked a seat on a future commercial flight, and the club wanted to ensure their new signing didn’t join him, just in case.
Dennis Bergkamp – No-Fly Clause
Arsenal legend Dennis Bergkamp suffered from a fear of flying so severe that he negotiated a clause excusing him from airplane travel. Nicknamed the “Non-Flying Dutchman,” he often traveled by train or coach and missed many European away matches, but his brilliance made it all worthwhile.
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Samuel Eto’o – Private Jet Clause
When Samuel Eto’o moved to Russian club Anzhi Makhachkala, he decided to live in Moscow — over 1,000 miles away. His contract guaranteed a private jet so he could fly to training daily. For the world’s highest-paid player at the time, distance was no obstacle.
Georg Koch – Anti-Racism Clause
Goalkeeper Georg Koch included a unique clause in his PSV contract allowing him to leave if he suffered racial abuse. Sadly, just three months after moving to the Netherlands, he activated it and returned to Germany due to hostility from the stands.
Mario Balotelli – Good Conduct Clause
Liverpool inserted a “good behavior” clause in Mario Balotelli’s contract to keep his notorious antics in check. Surprisingly, it worked: he avoided red cards throughout his spell at Anfield, though he still struggled to perform consistently on the pitch.
Luis Suarez – No Biting Clause
After multiple biting incidents at Ajax, Liverpool, and with Uruguay, Barcelona reportedly added a clause to Luis Suarez’s deal forbidding further chomping. While then-president Bartomeu denied its existence, the move made sense after Suarez arrived under a World Cup ban for biting Giorgio Chiellini.
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Ronaldinho – Two Nights Out Clause
Party-loving Ronaldinho made sure fun remained part of his lifestyle when joining Flamengo. His contract explicitly allowed him to go clubbing two nights a week without facing fines or discipline. Even in his twilight years, the Brazilian knew how to balance nightlife and football.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain – 20-Minute Clause
Arsenal’s deal with Southampton required paying a £10,000 fee whenever Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain played 20 minutes or more. Fans soon noticed he was frequently subbed on around the 71st minute, a tactic that conveniently dodged triggering the clause too often.
Neil Ruddock – Weight Clause
Crystal Palace imposed a 10% salary cut on Neil “Razor” Ruddock if he weighed over 99.8 kg — still a hefty figure. The result? Ruddock was fined eight times in just six months, proving how hard it was to keep him under that limit.
Roberto Firmino – Anti-Arsenal Clause
Liverpool were still annoyed by Arsenal’s cheeky £40,000,001 bid for Luis Suarez. So when they signed Roberto Firmino, they installed a €98 million release clause that specifically excluded Arsenal. Any club could trigger it — except the Gunners.
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Giuseppe Reina – House Clause
German striker Giuseppe Reina demanded a house built by Arminia Bielefeld for every year of his contract. Because the deal didn’t specify the type or size, the club famously gave him three small LEGO houses, fulfilling the agreement to the letter — if not the spirit.
Stig Inge Bjørnebye – No Skiing Clause
A former ski jumper, Norwegian defender Stig Inge Bjørnebye agreed to a clause at Liverpool banning him from getting within 200 yards of a ski slope. Given his father competed in Olympic ski jumping, it was a necessary precaution to protect the club’s investment.
Rolf-Christel Guie-Mien – Wife Cooking Lessons Clause
When Congolese midfielder Rolf-Christel Guie-Mien joined Eintracht Frankfurt, he included a contract clause mandating cooking lessons for his wife. He believed it would help his family settle better in Germany by improving their home-cooked meals.
Rafael van der Vaart – No Red Boots Clause
Real Betis forbade Rafael van der Vaart from wearing red boots — the colors of bitter rivals Sevilla. In return, he earned over €1.6 million during his stay. A small price to pay for keeping local pride intact.
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