Tottenham left ruing lack of foresight in transfer deal – Should have included clause but didn't

Tottenham missed the chance to include a Ballon d'Or bonus clause in Kane's €95m Bayern deal; similar clauses are standard in major transfers.

Harry Kane won the Ballon d'Or this week, becoming the first English player to claim the award since Michael Owen in 2021. The 33-year-old striker, who joined Bayern Munich from Tottenham in August 2023 for €95 million, has since scored 156 goals in 158 games for the German club.

Sky Sports reports that Tottenham could have negotiated additional bonus payments tied to Kane winning the Ballon d'Or—a clause that is not uncommon in major transfers. However, Tottenham did not include such a provision in the deal. While the transfer agreement does contain other bonus clauses for domestic titles and Champions League success, there is no payment triggered by individual awards.

The omission is notable because similar clauses have become standard practice in elite transfers. Yan Diomande's move to Real Madrid this summer included a Ballon d'Or clause, as did Renato Sanches' 2016 transfer to Bayern. Tottenham now faces regret over the missed opportunity to secure additional revenue from Kane's individual achievement.