Højlund's €85m release clause kicks in from 2027 but he has 3 goals in 13 games

Rasmus Højlund's contract contains an €85m release clause. From the summer 2027 window, a club from outside Italy will be able to take him by paying it, unless Napoli decide to sell him first. The deal was signed about 15 months ago and runs until 30 June 2030, with an option for one more season.

On Wednesday 4 November at Porto's Dragão he started up front in a 3-5-2 with no specialist full-backs. He had an equaliser ruled out for a narrow offside, and Napoli lost 4-1. At the final whistle he did not hide his frustration and vented it. He had missed the Juventus game with a fever and come back specifically for Porto, so the night will weigh on him.

A return in line with his career

That is the real problem. This season's numbers look like the rest of his career. At Atalanta he scored nine Serie A goals. At Manchester United, who paid around €80m for him, he scored ten in the Premier League in his first year plus five in the Champions League, then just four in his second. His best return came last season under Antonio Conte: 12 league goals.

Napoli signed him in summer 2025 for €50m, through a loan with an option to buy. He arrived with that price and that record. Thirteen games into this season, he has three goals.

For now a departure is still a distant prospect. When the window reopens on Saturday 2 January, changes in attack are expected to involve more or less everyone except him. Lucca has yet to score this season and is most likely to go out on loan. Neres is out with an injury to the semimembranosus, one of the hamstring muscles. Højlund remains the focal point up front, partly because the squad has no real alternative.

He did not expect to struggle this much at Napoli. If the trend does not change over the coming months, there could be surprises in the summer.

The awkward question

An €85m clause protects Napoli on a player they paid €50m for. But a clause only protects you while someone has a reason to pay it. To get there, the club needs Højlund back to at least last season's 12 goals.

In our view, the responsibility is not his alone. Whoever chose him and whoever picks him must answer for how he is set up to score. A €50m striker with three goals in November is not a problem that belongs only to him.

The next chance comes on Sunday 8 November at 12:30 CET (11:30 UK, 06:30 ET) at the Maradona against Lazio. They are top with 28 points, double our 14, and arrive without their captain Zaccagni. Napoli are eighth, nine points off fourth place, after two defeats in a row. On a day like that, our striker has to score. The 2027 clause can wait.