Maidenhead United made a clever move when they sold Max Kilman to Wolverhampton Wanderers for a mere £40,000 in 2018. They wisely included a sell-on clause, which has now proven to be a stroke of genius.Maidenhead United made a clever move when they sold Max Kilman to Wolverhampton Wanderers for a mere £40,000 in 2018. They wisely included a sell-on clause, which has now proven to be a stroke of genius. When Kilman was transferred to West Ham for a hefty £40 million, Maidenhead cashed in on their sell-on clause, earning an impressive £4 million. This windfall for the non-league club is reportedly one of the largest transfer payments ever received by an English non-league club. Peter Griffin, Maidenhead’s chairman, credits former coach Alan Devonshire and the academy program for Kilman’s success. Griffin emphasized that the transfer proceeds will significantly impact the club’s future, with plans to use the funds for improvements both on and off the pitch. A supporters’ meeting will be held to discuss these plans in detail. This deal highlights the potential benefits of foresight and savvy negotiations in the football world. Maidenhead United’s sell-on clause has paid off big time, enabling the club to invest in its development and future endeavors.
National League club Maidenhead United added a sell-on clause when they sold Max Kilman to Wolverhampton Wanderers for just £40,000 in a stroke of genius.
Kilman, who left Fifth Division side Maidenhead for Wolves on the final day of the 2018 transfer window, was announced as West Ham’s third summer signing on Saturday after a £40m transfer fee was agreed.
The 27-year-old defender was one of two outfield players to play every minute of Premier League football for their club last season.
And it is understood his performances have impressed those behind the scenes at West Ham, who have offered the former England futsal international a seven-year contract.
“I really enjoyed working with Julen during his time at Wolves – he is a top class coach and someone I have learnt a lot from, and I am confident that I will continue to improve as a player under his management here,” said Kilman. Official website of West Ham.
“After speaking at length with Julen and Tim (Steidten, Technical Director) I was really encouraged by the ambition of the club and their plans for the future. They want to make a lot of noise here at West Ham and as a new player that’s incredible to hear.”
Non-League club Maidenhead have made £4m from Kilman’s transfer as a result of the £40m sale, after including a 10 per cent sell-on clause in the 2018 deal.
Kilman, who played futsal for England and London Helvetica after being released from Fulham’s youth academy, played professional football for Welling United from 2014 to 2015 before moving to Maidenhead in 2015.
Maidenhead chairman Peter Griffin has paid tribute to Kilman after his move to West Ham was confirmed and provided details of the release clause.
“I would like to congratulate former Maidenhead United player Max Kilman on completing his transfer from Wolves to West Ham and wish him every success in this exciting next phase of his career,” he said. in a statement on the club’s official website.
“It’s no big secret that when we sold Max to Wolves in 2018, there was a sell-on clause in the transfer agreement that will benefit the club for years to come.
“There has been a lot of speculation in recent days about the sell-on clause and the amount the club will receive. As you might expect, commercial confidentiality prevents me from providing specific details about the sell-on clause, but we were in discussions with several parties during the negotiation process for Max’s transfer. We reached a mutually acceptable position that all parties are happy with and, more importantly, is in the best interests of the club.
“Ultimately this is a fantastic outcome for the club who will benefit from one of the largest, if not the largest, transfer payments ever received by an English non-league club, which is something to celebrate. This is testament to the hard work of Alan Devonshire and his coaching team, both past and present, and also to our Academy programme which develops players each year who progress into our first team squad.”
Image Credits: Getty
Griffin added: “This is a momentous day for Maidenhead United FC, giving us the opportunity to make significant changes to the future of the club. A supporters’ meeting will be held in due course to provide further details on how the cash injection will be used on and off the pitch.”
