Neal Maupay has headed back to his native France with Olympique de Marseille agreeing a deal to sign the striker on a season-long loan with an obligation to buy him next summer for around €6m.
According to reports, that initial payment includes a €500,000 loan fee and the transfer could be worth as much as €10m once all appearance-related add-ons are factored in. Everton have also negotiated a small sell-on clause for the 28-year-old.
Marseille were after attacking reinforcements after Faris Moumbagna suffered an ACL injury and initially tried to acquire Maupay solely for this season.
However, Everton were insistent on selling the former Brentford and Brighton man on a permanent basis and rejected the offer of loan deal with a mere option to buy. Now, an arrangement that involves a €500,000 loan fee and could eventually be worth more than €8m has been reached.
Maupay’s transfer from the Seagulls has simply not worked out as hoped, with the 28-year-old scoring just once in 32 appearances but the Blues could recoup a sizeable chunk of the £12m they paid Brighton for him two years ago and won’t now lose him for nothing next year.
Maupay was in the final year of his contract at Goodison Park but the Blues will exercise a club option to extend that by a year to provide the means to demand that initial fee at the end of this season.