Man United fan-favourite’s contract now confirmed to contain secret £56m release clause supporters knew nothing about

When Bruno Fernandes committed his future to Manchester United by signing a contract extension last summer, a release clause was included in his terms.

The Red Devils skipper had been the subject of tentative approaches from a number of sides across Europe, which prompted United to tie him down to a bumper deal until June 2027, plus the option of an additional year.

Assuming he sees it out, Fernandes’ Old Trafford tenure will potentially extend beyond seven or eight years, following his £68 million move from Sporting Lisbon back in January 2020.

(Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)

However, in the event he wants to embark on a new venture elsewhere, clubs outside of England will be able to acquire his services for a fixed fee of £56.8m, provided it’s ‘triggered early enough’ , as confirmed by BBC Sport’s Simon Stone.

– Friday, 24 October 2025

This comes after United received a proposal worth around £100m to part ways with their captain over the summer from Al-Hilal. The club were entirely uninterested in doing business and, after several days of deliberation, Fernandes also declined the offer .

He has since picked up where he left off in terms of being an integral cog at the heart of Ruben Amorim’s side – as has been the case under each manager the Portuguese international has played for.

(Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)

Fernandes, 31, also told Stone how he is unwilling to engage in any talks regarding his future until after the 2026 World Cup, where he’s expected to represent his nation on the biggest stage once again.

Should United fail to qualify for Europe for a second successive season in 2025/2026, the chances of the midfielder seeking a summer departure would undoubtedly increase, and he could leave M16 knowing he’s done everything in his power to try and restore the 20-time champions to their former glories.