Man Utd confirm £6.8m Facundo Pellistri sale with huge sell-on clause and buy-back option

Man Utd have confirmed the permanent sale of Facundo Pellistri, with his new club Panathinaikos hailing the Uruguayan’s ‘great talent’ in a statement.

The deal is worth £6.8m, according to the BBC, with United receiving £5.1m for the winger with up to £1.7m in possible add-ons.

Ten Hag’s side have also inserted a buy-back clause, which lasts until 2027, and a hefty 45 per cent sell-on fee.

Pellistri spent four years at Old Trafford from 2020 to 2024, having arrived from Club Atlético Peñarol in Uruguay, with United paying around £9m for the player.

The 22-year-old never managed to break into the XI on a consistent basis, though, making a total of just 25 first-team appearances for the Red Devils.

He spent time on loan at Granada in La Liga last term – and impressively scored in a 3-3 draw against Barcelona in February – but he’ll now swap England for Greece.

‘PAE Panathinaikos announces the acquisition of Facundo Pellistri by transfer from Manchester United,’ his new club said in a statement on their official website.

‘The 22-year-old Uruguayan attacking midfielder has signed a four-year contract and comes to strengthen the Shamrocks with his great talent and outstanding footballing qualities.’

United, meanwhile, posted their own statement which read: ‘Facundo Pellistri has joined Panathinaikos on a permanent transfer.

‘The Uruguay international, who represented his country at this summer’s Copa America, is heading to the Greek Super League to continue his career.

‘The Greek Cup holders are coached by Diego Alonso, who was Uruguay manager between 2021 and 2023. Alonso selected the right-winger at the 2022 World Cup finals after handing him his debut against Paraguay, earlier that year. 

‘Pellistri joined United from Penarol in 2020 but had to wait patiently for his senior bow for the Reds. Two loan spells in La Liga with Alaves helped develop his game before his maiden appearance under Erik ten Hag in the quarter-final win over Charlton Athletic, en route to winning the Carabao Cup in 2022/23.

‘He was called upon in some big games, and started the Champions League clash at Bayern Munich in the following season, before another temporary move to Spain was agreed, as he switched to Granada.

‘The 22-year-old scored in an exciting 3-3 draw with Barcelona and showed the benefits of such experience with his performances under Marcelo Bielsa for Uruguay in the United States recently.

‘Upon his return to domestic duty, he came off the bench in the Community Shield clash with Manchester City, as we drew 1-1 before losing a penalty shootout.

‘It proved to be his last outing in the red shirt and everyone at the club would like to wish Facundo the very best of luck with his new club, and thank him for his efforts here.’