
đ¨ DEAL HIJACKED â ď¸: Manchester United Hijacked Playerâs Transfer Despite Having Completed His Medical with Chelsea
In one of the most dramatic twists of the summer transfer window, Manchester United have successfully hijacked a high-profile signing from under the noses of Chelsea â after the player had already completed his medical with the London club.
Footballâs transfer window is no stranger to last-minute turnarounds, but this saga has left fans stunned, agents scrambling, and Chelsea fuming. What was supposed to be a routine unveiling turned into a transfer coup that has once again showcased Manchester Unitedâs enduring clout and ruthlessness in the market.
đŻ The Player at the Heart of the Drama
The player in question? Michael Olise â the Crystal Palace winger widely regarded as one of the most exciting young talents in English football.
At just 23, Olise had attracted serious interest from multiple top clubs after a stellar Premier League season in which he notched 10 goals and 6 assists despite injury setbacks. With a modest release clause of around ÂŁ60 million and a technical profile ideal for a modern winger, he was one of the most sought-after names of the summer.
Chelsea moved quickly. Talks progressed smoothly, personal terms were agreed, and by all accounts, the medical was successfully completed in London just two days ago. The club was preparing a slick media rollout â photos were taken, marketing assets prepared.
But then, in a twist worthy of a Netflix documentary, Manchester United intervened.
đľď¸ââď¸ How United Hijacked the Deal
Sources close to the situation reveal that United made a bold, last-minute phone call to Oliseâs representatives â and the player himself. The offer? Higher wages, a clearer sporting project, and a starring role under the newly restructured United setup following their surprise reinstatement to the Premier League.
Even more importantly, United offered something Chelsea couldnât: stability. Chelsea’s turbulent managerial changes and bloated squad made the pitch less appealing than it had seemed just days prior.
Olise, reportedly swayed by the allure of playing at Old Trafford, and advised by his camp to reconsider the bigger picture, instructed his team to pause the final documentation of the Chelsea deal.
Within hours, United had activated the release clause, sent over their own team of lawyers, and scheduled their own medical â which took place privately on Tuesday night.
By Wednesday morning, the hijack was complete. Michael Olise is now a Manchester United player.
đľ Chelsea Left Stunned
For Chelsea, this is nothing short of humiliating. Club insiders have described the mood at Stamford Bridge as âfuriousâ and âbaffled,â with senior executives reportedly demanding internal answers about how such a late reversal could occur.
Fans have taken to social media in frustration, with many questioning how the club could lose a player who had already undergone medical tests and was, by all public accounts, on the brink of being announced.
âThis is unforgivable,â one Chelsea supporter wrote on X (formerly Twitter). âWeâve gone from medical done to deal hijacked in 48 hours. What is happening behind the scenes?â
Others have begun to question whether Chelseaâs recent transfer strategy â which has seen the club stockpile young talent without immediate first-team plans â may be starting to backfire with more ambitious players.
đ´ Unitedâs Statement of Intent
For Manchester United, this move is more than just a transfer â itâs a message.
Still reeling from their turbulent 2024/25 campaign, and freshly reinstated into the Premier League following Tottenhamâs expulsion due to the bribery scandal, United are wasting no time in asserting themselves as serious players once again.
Sir Jim Ratcliffeâs INEOS-led football operation has made it clear that this summer is about resetting the standards at Old Trafford. With key appointments across recruitment and analytics already made, Oliseâs signing is the first high-profile move under the new regime.
A club statement released this morning reads:
> âWe are delighted to confirm the signing of Michael Olise from Crystal Palace. Michael is an exceptional talent with the vision, pace, and creativity to light up Old Trafford. We look forward to welcoming him to Manchester United.â
Sources suggest United are planning to make Olise a central figure in a rebuilt front line, potentially partnering with Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho in what could become one of the most dynamic attacking trios in the league.
đ° The Financial Breakdown
Despite the drama, the financials remain fairly straightforward:
Release clause: ÂŁ60 million (paid in full by Manchester United)
Wages: Around ÂŁ180,000 per week, significantly higher than what Chelsea were offering
Contract: Five-year deal, with an option for a sixth year
Importantly, because United activated the release clause directly, Crystal Palace had no say in which club the player ultimately joined. Once Olise opted for United, the Eagles had to respect the clause.
Palace, while disappointed to lose their star man, will at least walk away with a guaranteed payout and are reportedly already scouting replacements.
đĽ What This Means for the Transfer Market
The ripple effects of this hijack could be massive.
First, it signals a new era of aggression in Manchester Unitedâs transfer approach. Long criticized for slow, bureaucratic deals and missing out on top targets, this move shows a newfound decisiveness that fans have been begging for.
Second, it may cause Chelsea to rethink their recruitment strategy. Losing a player post-medical is rare and embarrassing, and may raise serious questions about communication and trust within their negotiation process.
Finally, this hijack reaffirms a harsh reality of modern football: until a contract is signed, nothing is done. Players, agents, and clubs are all operating in an environment where loyalty often takes a backseat to opportunity.
â˝ What Olise Brings to United
On the pitch, Michael Olise offers everything United have lacked on the right flank for years: technical brilliance, creativity in tight spaces, set-piece mastery, and an eye for goal.
His versatility means he can also play centrally when needed, and his age means he can be developed further under the right management â especially if United bring in a coach aligned with the new footballing vision.
Oliseâs arrival could also affect the futures of players like Antony, Facundo Pellistri, and Jadon Sancho, with at least one expected to be moved on this summer.
đ Final Thoughts
In an already chaotic transfer window, Manchester United have pulled off one of the boldest and most audacious moves of the summer. Stealing a player post-medical is rare â and doing so against a direct rival like Chelsea makes it all the more explosive.
For United fans, itâs a fresh sign of ambition. For Chelsea, itâs a bitter pill to swallow. And for the rest of the footballing world, itâs a reminder that in modern football, nothing is done until itâs signed.
Expect more twists, more drama, and more hijacks â because if this summer has shown anything, itâs that no
deal is safe.
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