LEEDS are reportedly being forced to pay ex-player Jean-Kevin Augustin £24.5million after they were found to have breached his contract by failing to sign him permanently.
The forward, 25, joined the club in the Championship in January 2020 on loan from RB Leipzig.
But he made just three appearances for Marcelo Bielsa’s men, totalling 48 minutes.
He left at the end of his short-term loan and ended up signing for Nantes.
But Leeds did not fulfil their contractual obligation to sign Augustin for £18m – which they were required to do if they were promoted to the Premier League at the end of the 2019/20 season.
Bielsa’s men gained promotion after they won the Championship by 10 points.
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According to The Athletic, Fifa’s Dispute Resolution Chamber found the case “partially in Augustin’s favour”.
Leeds’ breach of Augustin’s contract is set to see them pay him five years worth of an £80,000-a-week deal.
A statement from the club read: “The club cannot comment on an ongoing legal matter.”
In December, Leeds reached an “amicable resolution” with RB Leipzig as they came to a £15.5m settlement following a dispute around Augustin – who now plays for Basel.
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It was a negotiated figure from the £18m fee Leipzig wanted.
A Fifa hearing in June 2021 upheld Leipzig’s claim called the “Challenged Decision” and ordered Leeds to make a first payment of £5.85m.
The Premier League side then lost their appeal in the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
