Fortuna Dusseldorf: release clause for Ao Tanaka

The team’s most valuable professional

With a market value of 2.5 million euros, Ao Tanaka (24) is the most valuable player in the Fortuna Düsseldorf squad – and probably the most exciting part. While the Japanese oscillated between the bench and the starting XI last season, he is fixed in the current season and has contributed one goal and three assists in 15 games so far. Although the World Cup driver’s contract runs until 2025, he could leave the club earlier: ‘Bild’ reports that the working document contains an exit clause of 5 million euros and will take effect from next summer.

If Tanaka brought in income of this magnitude, he would be among the most expensive departures in the club’s history to Fortuna – the Rhinelanders only raked in over €5m from the sale of Benito Raman (28) in 2019 to Schalke 04 for 10 million euros. Tanaka first moved to Düsseldorf on loan from Kawasaki Frontale in the summer of 2021 and was signed for €1million the following year. It seems unlikely that the national player will be transferred in the winter – after all, he himself announced that he would stay. « I also play for Fortuna in the second half of the season, » he reportedly told the newspaper. He continued: “I want to play a good second half of the season here and be successful. Only the ascent counts.

The ‘Bild’, however, speculates that Fortuna officials are ready to talk if an interested party offers more than 5 million euros. It is said that new players can only come if some are handed over beforehand. For now, Fortuna and four other second division clubs remain inactive in the transfer market.

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