Unusual Contract Provision Triggers Payment
Arsenal incurred a £1.4 million payment to Southampton after selling Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to Liverpool, stemming from an unusual clause in his original contract. The England international’s 2017 transfer to Anfield fetched an initial £35 million, potentially rising to £40 million, marking Arsenal’s record sale at the time.
Oxlade-Chamberlain began his professional career at Southampton, where he played just one season before joining Arsenal for £15 million in 2011. That deal included £12 million upfront and £3 million in performance bonuses, some linked to his playing time in north London.
The 20-Minute Appearance Clause
His Arsenal contract featured a provision requiring the club to pay Southampton £10,000 for every match in which he played at least 20 minutes. This clause drew attention as Arsene Wenger often substituted the midfielder late in games, typically after the 71st minute or from the bench. Across 198 appearances for Arsenal, he started only 115 times.
The provision’s details emerged in discussions, highlighting its impact. In a 2024 episode of the That Peter Crouch Podcast, former Liverpool striker Peter Crouch and ex-Chelsea midfielder Steve Sidwell expressed surprise. Sidwell questioned, “Our researchers, is this real? Hold on, every 20 minutes?” Crouch responded, “I don’t know if that’s true [but] that is madness.”
Over six years at Arsenal, the clause generated £1.4 million for Southampton through Oxlade-Chamberlain’s appearances: 85 Premier League matches, 25 Champions League games, 18 FA Cup ties, and nine EFL Cup fixtures.
Career Highlights and Recent Moves
Oxlade-Chamberlain made more appearances for Arsenal than any other club, scoring 20 goals and providing 28 assists. He secured three FA Cups and three Community Shields during his tenure.
At Liverpool, injuries limited him to a squad role, with 103 Premier League appearances in six seasons. Despite challenges, he contributed to the 2019 Champions League victory and the 2020 Premier League title.
After departing Liverpool in 2023, he signed with Besiktas, winning the Turkish Cup but struggling for consistent starts. His contract ended in August 2025, leaving him as a free agent. With the transfer window closing on Monday, a swift move would allow registration for upcoming competitions.
