French Ligue 1 side Stade Rennais have publicly stated they are yet to receive any payment from Turkish club Trabzonspor for the transfer of winger Kazeem Aderemi Olaigbe, prompting concerns over the fulfilment of agreed financial terms. Rennes insist the fee for the Nigerian-born attacker remains outstanding.
The issue relates to Olaigbe’s move earlier this year, when Trabzonspor agreed terms with Rennes before sending the young player to Turkish rivals Konyaspor on a temporary deal with an option to buy.
Olaigbe, a fast-paced winger who developed through the ranks in Europe, had been part of Rennes’ squad before the arrangement with Trabzonspor in January 2026. Under that agreement, Konyaspor was set to pay a loan fee of around €3.02 million, with Trabzonspor holding the option to earn further income should Konyaspor exercise a permanent purchase clause.
While the structure of the deal was understood by all parties, Rennes now say Trabzonspor has not settled any part of the agreed transfer compensation, a situation that could escalate if not resolved through dialogue or formal dispute proceedings.
Unpaid transfer fees can lead to a range of consequences under football’s governing regulations, including potential rulings from FIFA’s Dispute Resolution Chamber if clubs are unable to settle their accounts. Although Rennes have not announced any formal action yet, the statement has drawn attention to contractual obligations in the transfer market.
For Olaigbe himself, the focus remains on integrating with his current environment and progressing his development on loan, with off-field financial matters between clubs not affecting his eligibility to play.
Editorial
The situation involving Kazeem Olaigbe’s transfer fee highlights ongoing challenges in the international transfer system, where complex deals involving multiple clubs and staged payments can sometimes lead to disputes over fulfilment of obligations. This is not unique to this case transfers worldwide occasionally involve delayed or contested payments that need arbitration or intervention by governing bodies.
For Nigerian football fans, the matter underscores the increasing footprint of Nigerian talent abroad. Olaigbe’s career trajectory, moving through Europe and attracting interest from multiple clubs, illustrates the demand for skilled Nigerian players. However, issues such as unpaid fees can strain relationships between clubs and may need governing bodies like FIFA to step in to uphold contractual fairness.
In the short term, all eyes will be on how Rennes, Trabzonspor and Konyaspor handle this financial dispute. A swift resolution is in the interests of all parties involved and preserves the integrity of the transfer process for future deals involving Nigerian and other international players.
Did You Know?
- Kazeem Olaigbe is a Nigerian-born winger who transferred from Rennes to Trabzonspor before moving on loan to Konyaspor.
- The loan agreement with Konyaspor includes an option to buy, which would trigger additional transfer payments.
- Rennes say they have not received any part of the transfer fee owed from Trabzonspor.
- Transfer fee disputes can be taken to FIFA’s Dispute Resolution Chamber if clubs cannot resolve them amicably.
- Nigerian players like Olaigbe continue to attract interest across Europe and Turkey, reflecting the global demand for Nigerian talent.
