Manchester United Set for Windfall from Kambwala Transfer to Como

Manchester United are set for a modest windfall as former defender Willy Kambwala prepares to leave Villarreal, with Italian side Como leading the race for his signature.

Como are understood to be in pole position to land the 19-year-old, edging ahead of La Liga outfit Osasuna as the transfer deadline looms. Villarreal are not expected to command a major fee, but United will still bank a slice of whatever the Spanish club receive thanks to a sell-on clause inserted when Kambwala left Old Trafford.

At the time of his move to Villarreal in 2024, United sources described that sell-on as “sizeable”. The Spanish club agreed a package worth €5.5 million plus €6m in add-ons to sign the centre-back, with United protecting their position through a buy-back option and matching rights for three years, on top of the sell-on percentage.

The Kambwala deal now looks like an early example of a policy that has become standard at Old Trafford since Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s investment and Ineos’ takeover of football operations. United had occasionally used such clauses before, but they are now baked into almost every outgoing transfer.

The club have pushed hard to ensure they stay financially connected to their academy graduates and young prospects. Tyler Fredricson’s move to Lausanne-Sport came with a “high percentage” sell-on clause and a buy-back option. Radek Vitek’s switch to Middlesbrough was tied to a buy-back, matching rights and a sell-on clause of up to 35 per cent.

Even lower-profile exits are being tightly managed. Ethan Williams’ transfer to Peterborough last week included a 50 per cent sell-on clause, along with buy-back and matching rights, underlining how aggressively United intend to profit from any future rise in value.

Kambwala’s move to Como is unlikely to transform United’s balance sheet. But it is another small return from a strategy that now runs through every deal the club signs off – a long game that could reshape how Old Trafford benefits from its production line of young talent.