Alexander Isak cannot terminate his contract at Newcastle to force a transfer to Liverpool this summer using a FIFA rule revised after Lassana Diarra’s court case.
Article 17 of FIFA’s Regulations on the Transfer and Status of Players was rewritten following a court case last year which ruled their previous wording breached EU law.
This came after former Real Madrid midfielder Diarra legally challenged FIFA over their rules on transfers, relating to his ban and €10 million fine for a breach of contract in attempting to move from Lokomotiv Moscow to Charleroi in 2014.
It has been speculated that Isak could now invoke the amended Article 17 to unilaterally terminate his contract with Newcastle without reason.
But that is not possible, at least this summer, and any move that would take to striker to Liverpool before the transfer window closes would require a traditional agreement with his current club Newcastle.
The rule would need to be invoked within 15 days of the end of a season, meaning the earliest Isak could do so would be mid-June 2026.
File photo dated 07-01-2025 of Newcastle boss Eddie Howe (left), who has admitted that he is not in ìfull controlî over Alexander Isakís future. Issue date: Tuesday July 29, 2025.
Compensation would still be owed to Newcastle if that was to happen, though there is no indication at this stage that the player or his representatives intend to do so.
Instead the landscape remains largely the same, albeit with Newcastle now publicly insistent that – contrary to the claims of their No. 14 – they have not reneged on any promises made.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, following Isak’s controversial post on Instagram regarding his future, officials at St James’ Park explained: “We do not foresee those conditions [of a sale this summer] being met.”
It has been repeatedly maintained that Newcastle would need to sign a top-level replacement for Isak before they would consider his sale, while a price tag of £150 million has been mooted.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Friday, August 15, 2025: Liverpool's Hugo Ekitike during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and AFC Bournemouth at Anfield. Liverpool won 4-2. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
They have been continually unsuccessful in landing their centre-forward targets, including Hugo Ekitike, Benjamin Sesko, Liam Delap and Joao Pedro.
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But they are also still exploring the market for possibilities, with another bid for Brentford‘s Yoane Wissa falling short on Wednesday and Wolves‘ Jorgen Strand Larsen, PSG’s Goncalo Ramos and Chelsea‘s Nicolas Jackson also named as targets.
While Article 17 has been floated as a possible escape route for Isak after he made clear “the relationship can’t continue” at Newcastle, it is simply not a feasible scenario.
Liverpool would likely distance themselves from that situation in any case, as their long-term relationships at boardroom level will no doubt be valued over taking extreme measures to secure a priority transfer target.