Chelsea’s knack for smart clauses is paying off again. Omari Hutchinson’s impending move from Ipswich Town to Nottingham Forest is set to hand the Blues around £4.25 million, thanks to a sell-on clause in last summer’s deal. The clause gives Chelsea 25% of Ipswich’s profit on the player, not the total fee, making this pure profit — especially considering Hutchinson cost them nothing when they signed him from Arsenal in 2022. It’s a masterclass in low-risk, high-reward business.
Chelsea Clause Pays Off Big
Hutchinson joined Ipswich in June 2024 for £20 million, with Chelsea inserting a 25% sell-on clause on any profit. Fast forward a year and Forest are closing in on a £37 million club-record deal for the winger. That fee means Ipswich will make a profit of about £17 million, and Chelsea will bank a quarter of it — around £4.25 million.
The move would top Forest’s previous record spend of £35m on Dan Ndoye, marking another milestone in their Premier League era. For Chelsea, this shows that smart business off the pitch can be as rewarding as big results on it, especially with a player they never needed to replace.
Hutchinson’s Rise and Forest’s Move
Having made just two senior appearances for Chelsea, Hutchinson dazzled at Ipswich as he inspired them to one of the best-ever Premier League finishes. His pace, flair and eye for goal soon caught the eye of Premier League clubs.
Forest have beaten competition from Brentford, Everton, and even Inter Milan to secure the deal. Forest expect to finalise the transfer in the coming days, and Nuno Espírito Santo plans to make Hutchinson a key figure in his squad.
For Ipswich, it’s a huge payday; for Chelsea, it’s bonus cash for a player who never cemented a Stamford Bridge role but still leaves a lasting financial footprint.
Chelsea turned a free transfer into £20 million and added a £4.25 million encore — showing they score some of their smartest goals in the boardroom, not just on the pitch.
