Arsenal insert rare 'penalty' clause into player's contract as move sealed

Arsenal have inserted a rare penalty clause into Fabio Vieira's loan contract with FC Porto, it has been reported.

Vieira is close to re-joining former club Porto on loan from Arsenal, having gone the opposite way in a permanent transfer two years ago.

The 24-year-old has failed to nail down a regular starting spot at the Emirates Stadium, and has dropped further down the pecking order due to the emergence of wonderkid Ethan Nwaneri.

The opportunity to get more game time is seen as the ideal opportunities for both parties, with Vieira looking to get his career back on track in Liga Portugal.

According to reports, the deal contains a penalty clause which will come into effect if Porto do not play the Portugal international in a certain number of matches.

Fabrizio Romano claims that Porto must play Vieira in 50 per cent of their matches - there is no indication that these must be starts - or be forced to take a financial penalty.

While such penalties are still relatively rare, they are becoming more commonplace in modern football.

As per the Liverpool Echo in 2016, Liverpool requested a 75 per cent of minutes clause in the loan contracts of each of their young players to ensure they were getting enough gametime.

The policy meant a number of possible loan deals were cancelled, while Bristol City reportedly had to shell out a huge sum to the Reds after Ryan Kent spent time at the club in 2018.

It was claimed that Liverpool stipulated that the Robins played Kent in a certain number of matches during the Championship season.

But manager Lee Johnson only played him on 10 occasions in the league - with the financial believed to be around £200,000.

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When Arsenal loaned Eddie Nketiah to Leeds during the 2018/19 season, it was claimed by Football Insider that Marcelo Bielsa's side would have to pay financial penalties if the young forward didn't start enough matches.

It is unclear whether that was ever the case, but Nketiah was recalled by Arsenal in January after being unable to displace Patrick Bamford in the Leeds starting XI.