Dutch club NEC Nijmegen has completed the sale of left winger Basar Onal to French Ligue 1 side Lille OSC for a club-record €12.5 million. The deal, which could climb to €14.5 million with performance-related bonuses, represents a staggering return on a player NEC acquired just one year ago for €1 million.
The details behind NEC’s record-breaking exit
Onal, a 22-year-old Turkish-Dutch talent who plays as a left winger and left midfielder, passed his medical examination and is set to join Lille under coach Davide Ancelotti. His market value prior to the transfer was estimated at roughly €7 million, meaning Lille paid nearly double that assessed figure to secure his services.
NEC originally signed Onal from De Graafschap on July 5, 2024, for €1 million. His contract at NEC was locked in through June 30, 2028, giving the club significant leverage in negotiations. The €12.5 million base fee alone makes this the largest sale in NEC Nijmegen’s history. The additional €2 million in potential add-ons, tied to performance milestones at Lille, could push the total even higher.
Football’s transfer market as an alternative asset class
