The most tempting release clauses that can be activated now include a prominent Arsenal target or two and some potential bargains.

This is an inexhaustive list of players with release clauses which could actually viably be triggered soon. We are talking sub-£100m, not your daft £1bn La Liga jobs.

Goalkeepers with tempting release clauses

Alex Remiro
The usual suspects have been linked in Aston Villa and Newcastle but Remiro has never played outside of Spain and has only been capped twice by the European champions. A release clause that did stand at around £50m has fallen to £10.4m, mind, with Real Sociedad contract expiry on the horizon.

Diogo Costa
Manchester United have been linked with Portugal international keeper Costa before and Newcastle have been mentioned in passing too.

It doesn’t feel like Porto will hold out for the full £51.9m, nor that any club would pay it.

Defenders with tempting release clauses

Edmond Tapsoba
Newcastle were said to have offered £50m for Bayer Leverkusen defender Tapsoba in summer 2025; it is unknown whether or not they realised it might take as much as £86.2m.

Castello Lukeba
An eclectic cast of Liverpool, Spurs, Bayern Munich and Manchester City have been mentioned in discussions over Lukeba’s future, with a suggestion that Leipzig might not necessarily hold out for the French centre-half’s entire £68.9m release clause.

Enzo Boyomo
Aston Villa and Crystal Palace are known admirers of Osasuna centre-half Boyomo, who has been crucial for a side fighting to stay in La Liga during his time.

Boyomo stayed at Real Valladolid for just one campaign before moving to Pamplona; whoever triggers his £21m release clause might expect to keep him for a little longer.

Midfielders with tempting release clauses

Issa Doumbia
Sporting immediately slapped a £69m release clause on the Italian midfielder, who signed a five-year contract with the Portuguese giants.

Aleksey Batrakov
Arsenal and Liverpool might have been impressed on recent scouting expeditions to watch attacking midfielder Batrakov score in the Champions League for Galatasaray against Barcelona and Lille. Whether it is to the tune of £50m is yet to be seen.

Forwards with tempting release clauses

Samu Aghehowa
Another sign that Chelsea might have cracked something in the transfer code, Aghehowa was targeted for around £35m in what was basically a Conor Gallagher swap before the striker changed his surname, joined Porto and teased the sort of form which might attract £86.3m interest.

Vangelis Pavlidis
In a strong time for centre-forwards having release clauses triggered, Pavlidis was never likely to follow Hugo Ekitike, Viktor Gyokeres and Benjamin Sesko.

Newcastle thought £86.3m was a little too rich for their tastes. Then he had two 30-goal seasons with Benfica.

Nico Williams
The bad news for Arsenal is that the Athletic Bilbao winger has extended his contract to 2035. The good news is that he still has a release clause, and it’s worth £77.6m. You’re still thinking about the bad news, aren’t you?

Takefusa Kubo
A substantial gamble at £51.6m but if Kubo can keep fit and find his best form, the money would be paid back quickly.

Flavio Goncalves
Sporting reckon Goncalves will one day become a £100m player, but it will cost interested Chelsea and Manchester United a guaranteed £50.2m to take him now.

David Otorbi
Liverpool caught wind of a £25m release clause in right-winger Otorbi’s contract, so Valencia responded by upping it to £50.2m.

Abde Ezzalzouli
Another available for around £50.2m is Ezzalzouli, whose development at Real Betis has been closely monitored by Paris Saint-Germain and former club Barcelona, who retain a sell-on clause in the winger’s future.

Sporting directors with tempting release clauses

Markus Krosche
The most 2026 of modern football things: Krosche resigned as Frankfurt sporting director but remains contracted to the Bundesliga club until 2028, albeit with ‘adjustments’ made to the terms. And if Milan want to release him from that deal it would cost them between £5.8m and £4.1m.