Haller debt sold to American billionaire

West Ham’s remaining debt to Frankfurt from the Sebastian Haller has been sold to a private equity company according to the DailyMail.

The Hammers failed to make a scheduled £5.4m payment due to Eintracht Frankfurt last summer, leading to West Ham being reported to FIFA.

Now the Mail claims the matter was resolved by the German club through selling the debt on to investment company MSD Capital.

Haller joined West Ham for a club-record £45m in 2019 but the fee was to be repaid in instalments.

West Ham exercised their right to pause some of the remaining payments. FIFA then launched an investigation, which was settled by Eintracht selling the debt on to MSD, who will now receive a portion of the £20.2m fee West Ham agreed with Ajax.

The New York-based company founded by computer tycoon Michael Dell of the computer firm fame.

He has become increasingly influential in English football recently by lending money to Southampton, Derby and Sunderland.

The 55-year-old worth over £40 billion recently loaned £90m to an American company to enable the leveraged takeover of Burnley football club.

Claret and Hugh understand that West Ham will receive just £20m from Ajax over four years in instalments,  the Hammers will pay the remainder of the outstanding Haller transfer fee to a finance company after Frankfurt sold their debt at a discount to get the cash immediately.  When all is said and done the Hammers will receive around half of what they paid out back for the Ivory Coast striker leaving a loss of just over £20m.  We are told it is not unusual for football clubs to sell transfer debts at discounts to raise cash.