Max Kilman’s £40 million move from Wolverhampton Wanderers to West Ham United was not only a landmark transfer for the Hammers but also a windfall for non-league side Maidenhead United. They sold Kilman to Wolves for just £40,000 in 2018,and had the foresight to include a future transfer clause in the deal, ensuring a percentage of any future sale. While the exact figure is not officially confirmed, it’s widely reported that Maidenhead secured around £4 million from Kilman’s transfer to West Ham, a life-changing sum for a club of their size.
Things could have been significantly better for Maidenhead too, the clubs initial clause with Wolves was for 20% and should have seen them receive £8m. However, the Midlands club renegotiated the terms of the deal as the transfer drew close to completion.
Kilman’s rise from non-league football to the Premier League offers hope to aspiring players in lower leagues, proving that a patient, gradual progression through the football pyramid can lead to top-level success. His story also underscores the value of investing in player development at smaller clubs, as these clauses in transfer negotiations can provide vital financial stability.
Maidenhead is not the first club to benefit from such deals. Clubs like Exeter City, Barnsley, and Maidstone United have all reaped rewards from sell-on clauses after their former players, such as Ollie Watkins, John Stones, and Chris Smalling, made big-money moves. These deals often provide a financial cushion, enabling lower-league clubs to invest in youth development, facilities, and overall sustainability.
For Premier League clubs, sell-on clauses act as insurance, particularly when selling young talents with high potential. This way, even if a player doesn’t initially succeed at the top level, a future big move can still generate significant returns. For clubs further down the pyramid, these clauses are essential tools for survival and growth, as Kilman’s transfer to West Ham demonstrates.
