Sunderland Echo

How Maja's deadline day move could affect Cats this summer

- Phil Smith philip.smith@jpimedia.co.uk @Phil__Smith

A successful second half of the season for Josh Maja could land Sunderland a seven-figure sum this summer.

Maja made a late move to the Premier League on deadline day, signing for Scott Parker's Fulham on loan until the end of the season.

The 22-year-old has seen his game time decrease at Girondins de Bordeaux since head coach Paulo Sousa was replaced by Jean-Louis Gasset.

He has now returned to the club he represente­d as an academy player as they bid to avoid relegation.

The loan deal includes an option to buy this summer for Fulham, with the price set at around €10 million according to L'Equipe.

The deal would have the potential to rise by a further €2 million in add-on clauses, dependent on Maja's performanc­e.

That is relevant to Sunderland as they are understood to have installed a sell-on clause in the hugely controvers­ial and acrimoniou­s deal that saw Maja leave the club in January 2019.

The clause was believed to be 10% of any future profit made by Bordeaux.

The initial fee paid by Bordeaux was understood to be in the region of €1.5 million, with bonus clauses potentiall­y seeing that figure double over time.

A €10 million summer sale would therefore see the Black

Cats land a seven-figure sum.

Maja has thus far scored 11 goals in 49 appearance­s during his time in France.

The striker said he was excited about a 'big opportunit­y' in the Premier League.

"I’m really excited and proud to sign for Fulham on loan for the remainder of the season," he said.

"This is a big opportunit­y and I look forward to meeting up with the team and working hard to achieve positive results."

Maja will have two year left on his deal at Bordeaux should he return to the club without making the move to Fulham permanent this summer. Fulham's Director of Football Operations Tony Khan said: "I’m delighted that we’ve been able to bring Josh back to Fulham.

"He’s made tremendous progress in the years since he left our Academy, and now he’s returning to the Club in our First Team with an opportunit­y to earn his place in our squad and prove himself at the highest level."

 ??  ?? Josh Maja sealed a deadline day loan switch to Fulham.
Josh Maja sealed a deadline day loan switch to Fulham.

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