Three of Kuhn’s former clubs are set to benefit from the transfer

18:37, 09 Jul 2025Updated 19:35, 09 Jul 2025

Nicolas Kuhn(Image: SNS Group)

Celtic’s successful player trading model is set to come to fruition once again, with the Hoops poised to bank big bucks for Nicolas Kuhn.

The German winger arrived at Parkhead from Rapid Vienna in January 2024 for a fee of £3million but Brendan Rodgers‘ side are poised to make a return that is nearly six times that amount.

Kuhn is in talks with Como over a move to Italy that could cost the Serie A side as much as €20 million (£17.2million). Despite his form dropping off in the latter stages of the season, the former Bayern Munich youngster enjoyed a prolific campaign, registering 21 goals and 15 assists in 41 matches in all competitions.

Celtic fans will now hope to see that full lump sum reinvested into the playing squad, with Rodgers still in the market for reinforcements in several positions.

But the way in which transfers are conducted these days mean that the Hoops will, according to reports, not actually see the full quantity of proceeds from Kuhn’s sale land in their coffers.

Record Sport takes a look at the three clubs who are set to receive a windfall from the player’s pending move to Lombardy.

Rapid Vienna

Austrian outfit Rapid are poised to bank a significant seven figure sum when Kuhn’s transfer to Italy is signed, sealed and delivered.

The Allianz Stadion side inserted a sell-on clause into the deal that took the winger to Parkhead and Austrian outlet Laola1 claim that Rapid will earn around €1.6 million (£1.4 million) from Kuhn’ s sale.

They snapped the 25-year-old up from Bayern Munich’s reserve team back in 2022 before he went onto score seven times in 51 appearances for the capital club.

AjaxNicolas Kuhn (right) in action for Jong Ajax in 2019(Image: Erwin Spek/Soccrates/Getty Images)

Amsterdam giants Ajax – where Kuhn launched his professional career – are also in line to land part of the windfall.

The Celtic hero joined the Dutch side from RB Leipzig for €2million (£1.7million) in 2018 and went onto make his senior debut in football with the club’s reserve side in the Netherlands second tier, spending three years there before heading to Munich.

And because of FIFA’s transfer mechanism around club’s receiving compensation for helping develop players between the ages of 12 and 23, Ajax will reportedly clock a one-off, solidarity payment of €200,000 (£172,449).

FC Erzgebirge Aue

FIFA’s payment scheme will also see another one of Kuhn’s old clubs – FC Erzgebirge – receive a nominal fee of Celtic’s chunky transfer cheque.

Prior to making the move to Vienna, Kuhn enjoyed a season out on loan in 2. Bundesliga with Erzgebirge in the 2021/22 campaign, scoring three times in 27 matches.

And while he was still on Bayern Munich’s books at the time, Erzgebirge sporting director Matthias Heidrich has revealed that they too will benefit from Kuhn’s pending Parkhead departure.

Speaking to TAG24, Heidrich confirmed that the minnows will receive €50,000 (£43,114) from the transfer, which he insists will be a massive help to the mid-table second tier club.

He said: “Through the FIFA transfer mechanism, five percent of the transfer fee is divided among the training clubs. First of all, it’s relevant and helpful for the entire club. Every additional euro should also help him gain legroom. It might be needed, too…”