In an article that shows just how mad football transfers have become, Wales Online is reporting that the Swans have paid around £5.7m in a signing on fee to secure the services of their new signing Andre Ayew.
The deal to bring Ayew to the club was completed last week with reports showing it as a free transfer. It has also been reported that he will earn £50k per week wages which isn't really a surprise but it is the size of the signing on fee that will raise a few eyebrows amongst Swans fans.
On the face of it if you take the total value of the deal it would still represent great business for the Swans to secure a much sought after player for the fees mentioned. Had he been English and playing in the Premier League there is every chance that the fee quoted would have been trebled as a minimum such is the way that the transfer market works.
It is not the first time that these deals have been mentioned - it was widely rumoured last season that we had paid a large signing on fee to grab the signature of Bafetimbi Gomis when he joined on what was reported to be a free transfer.
It only goes to serve how much the players control the transfer market (well, between them and the agents) and it has to be frustrating to the selling clubs to find that players let their contracts expire and the wealth goes to them.
However, that is the transfer market that we have allowed to develop and as mentioned above if this means that we can - as a buying club - get a quality player for what appears to be a good bargain fee then does it really matter who gets the money that is outlayed to complete the transfer?
What I would say though is not sure I believe the reports that suggest that at £50k per week he will be the highest paid player at the club. We have been at this level now for four years and I firmly believe that we have several players earning at least that if not more. The club though do have a reputation for trying to keep wages down and bonuses up and again if that means we get a better level of performance then so be it.
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