Willy Kambwala has left Manchester United for Villarreal in a €11.5m (£9.6m) deal. United decided to sell the 19-year-old defender after he rejected the offer of a new contract.
United have retained a buy-back option for three years on Kambwala, who had a year remaining on his current deal, as well as a considerable share of any sell-on price.
This is a similar protection to the transfer in May of Álvaro Fernández to Benfica, the Portuguese club triggering a £5m option to buy the Spanish left-back. Last week, Donny van de Beek left for Girona in a deal that could rise to €9.1m and includes a sizeable share of any sell-on fee.
Kambwala joined United in October 2020 from the French second-tier club Sochaux and made his debut in December’s 2-0 loss at West Ham, ending the season with 10 appearances and was an unused substitute in the 2-1 FA Cup final victory over Manchester City. The fee for his move to Villarreal, who finished eighth in La Liga last season, is €5.5m plus €6m in add-ons.