Alexander Isak Seizes Control: How the Star Striker Commands His Transfer Destiny
Alexander Isak continues to dominate summer transfer headlines as the Swedish striker maintains his pursuit of a switch to Liverpool.
The Players' Player of the Year candidate is anticipated to be absent from tonight's PFA Awards ceremony while his transfer standoff with Newcastle United persists.
This represents just another act of rebellion from a player who conducted pre-season training with his previous club Real Sociedad during the summer and has allegedly vowed never to represent Newcastle again, regardless of whether he remains contracted to the Tyneside club when the transfer window concludes. Three years remain on his current agreement, but Isak holds significant bargaining power.
Writing for ESPN, Gabriele Marcotti emphasized how Article 17 of the FIFA Regulations on the Transfer and Status of Players might provide Isak with the upper hand as the summer window approaches its Sep. 1 deadline.
The Article was initially implemented in December 2004 with the goal of safeguarding players from a transfer framework that the European Commission considered restrictive of employment mobility freedoms.
"Should a player terminate their contract without what's termed 'just cause,' the compensation owed to the club should theoretically be capped at the remaining contract value, with potential adjustments based on national legislation," FIFPro states.
This mechanism became significantly more accessible following an October ruling that eliminated several obstacles.
Should no transfer materialize before Sep. 1, Isak confronts a campaign of either representing Newcastle or remaining inactive until the January transfer period. This presents a challenging dilemma for the forward considering it's a World Cup year. Nevertheless, Isak could activate Article 17 up to 15 days before the season's final fixture—early June 2026—and effectively depart the club without a fee when next summer's transfer window begins. The possibility of this maneuver could potentially compel Newcastle to act this summer.
If Isak were to exit next summer through Article 17, the Magpies would be authorized to pursue compensation, though Marcotti referenced a legal expert who anticipated the club would receive approximately £50-60 million ($67.5-81 million). Newcastle could pursue additional appeals, but two considerations—that figure would likely fall well short of what they've already rejected from Liverpool's initial £110 million offer, and the appeals process could significantly postpone when they receive any payment.
Whether Isak's representatives are leveraging Article 17 in transfer negotiations remains unclear, but his decision to avoid the PFA Awards alongside other actions further solidifies the player's desire to change clubs this summer. Liverpool may submit a fresh offer, but Newcastle have already lost out on premier striker targets including Benjamin Šeško and Hugo Ekitiké.
It has been a disastrous transfer window for the Magpies entering a Champions League season following a top-five finish. Additionally, they ended their trophy drought at Wembley Stadium by defeating the very club now pursuing Isak for the Carabao Cup.