From Saudi Arabia to the Black Sea: Inside Trabzonspor’s sensational Darwin Nunez loan heist

Uruguayan striker Darwin Nunez is set to join Trabzonspor on loan after the Turkish club reportedly reached a full agreement with Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal.

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What happened: The salary split

Following days of intense negotiations, a breakthrough has been achieved regarding the financial structure of the transfer. Speaking to the television programme "Fi Al Marma" on Friday, Turkish journalist Mustafa Özgür Sancar confirmed that a tripartite agreement has been successfully concluded between the player and both clubs.

The deal heavily relies on a substantial wage sharing compromise. According to Sancar, Nunez currently earns an annual salary of €22 million in Saudi Arabia. To make the move financially viable for the Turkish club, Al-Hilal has agreed to cover the majority of that figure.

"Trabzonspor has agreed with Darwin Nunez on a transfer to its ranks and has also agreed with Al-Hilal on the departure of the Uruguayan player.. Nunez's salary with Al-Hilal is €22 million, the Saudi club will pay €14 million of it while Trabzonspor will only be responsible for paying €8 million" Sancar revealed.

The financial and strategic logic of the Nunez deal

This loan agreement represents a major transfer coup for Trabzonspor. By negotiating a favourable wage split, the Black Sea club has managed to secure an elite, European calibre forward for a fraction of his actual market cost.

For Al-Hilal, absorbing a €14 million financial hit for a player who will not feature for them this season underscores their urgency to restructure their squad. The Saudi club is likely prioritizing the immediate clearance of a valuable foreign player registration slot over the financial loss of subsidizing the striker's wages in Turkey.

With the financial framework and club to club agreements reportedly finalised, Nunez is expected to travel to Turkey in the coming days. Providing there are no late administrative hurdles and he successfully passes his mandatory medical examinations, Trabzonspor will officially unveil the Uruguayan as their latest high profile summer recruit.

Khaled Hegazy |

Editorar, en

Journaliste sportif spécialisé dans la couverture du football et la création de contenu numérique, alliant expérience éditoriale et expertise des médias sociaux.

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