Arsenal Transfer News: Mesut Ozil, Real Madrid Contract Clause Allegedly Exposed

It's been revealed that Real Madrid inserted a buy-back clause in Mesut Ozil's contract upon selling him to Arsenal in 2013, giving them first refusal on his services should another Spanish club bid for his signature.

Images released by whistleblowing website Football Leaks claim to show details of Ozil's transfer to the Emirates Stadium, including a stipulation dictating Real be notified if a Spanish side bids for the German (h/t Goal's Ewan Roberts). 

Tim Ireland/Associated Press

According to the reported contract, if Arsenal accept any offer that happens to come from another Spanish club, the north Londoners are obliged to then notify Real Madrid, who have 48 hours to match said offer.

It's worth noting Ozil must still agree to the transfer, and considering how well his Arsenal tenure is going, he may not be thinking of an exit.

The contract also revealed the true value of the transfer to be €44 million (£36 million in 2013), as opposed to the £42.5 million reported at the time.

However, the Gunners must pay Real Madrid a fee of €1 million for each time they qualify for UEFA competition—the Champions League or Europa League—"from July 1 onwards," payable to a maximum of six times, or €6 million.

That means the overall value of the deal could rise to €50 million (£37.9 million), but Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger may still feel his club have got their hands on a bargain based on his production rate since arriving, per Sky Sports Statto:

Another significant clause in the deal stipulated Real Madrid are due a sell-on percentage of 33 percent should Ozil be sold to a rival Spanish club for a fee of €50 million or more.

That would mean, at the very least, Los Merengues stand to make a substantial £12.7 million should the Gunners choose to cash in on their playmaker and send him back to Spain's top flight.

Ozil broke Premier League records this season by crafting 20 goals in a calendar year—more than any player before him—and recording assists in six consecutive league games.

The Gunners need not panic over an exit anytime soon, considering the 27-year-old has two-and-a-half years remaining on his contract and is one of the club's highest earners, according to Janan Ganesh of the Financial Times:

Any plans Real might have to facilitate an Ozil return could be complicated by the two-window transfer ban they're set to serve as things stand, a suspension that would prevent the player from registering until the summer of 2017.

It's highly unlikely Arsenal would consider letting their superstar leave as early as this year, but the newly unearthed details of Ozil's Real Madrid agreement could create a lingering concern at the Emirates Stadium.