Ismael Kone confirms €35m Sassuolo release clause amid Milan and Inter interest
Quick summary
Ismael Kone has confirmed that his Sassuolo contract includes a €35m release clause. The midfielder said he is happy at Sassuolo for now, despite reported interest from Milan and Inter.
Full article
Attributed to original sourceMidfielder Ismael Kone has admitted that there is a €35m release clause in his contract with Sassuolo, which could be of interest to both Inter and Milan, but the Canada international insists that he is happy with the Neroverdi project thus far.
Kone confirms €35m release clause and says ‘we’ll see’ Kone has impressed during his first season in Serie A. He left Marseille amidst reports of friction with former head coach and recently-appointed Tottenham boss Roberto De Zerbi. He signed on loan for a fee of €2.5m and the option to buy clause in his contract was activated for a €13m fee during the January transfer window.
Since then, Kone has gone on to make 34 Serie A appearances, chipping in with six goals from the centre of the park, which has attracted the attention from several high-profile clubs including both Inter and Milan according to recent reports in Italy.
SASSUOLO, ITALY – MARCH 01: Ismaël Koné of US Sassuolo celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the Serie A match between US Sassuolo Calcio and Atalanta BC at Mapei Stadium Citta del Tricolore on March 01, 2026 in Sassuolo, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images) Kone will be available for purchase this summer for a €35m release cla use, as the player has recently confirmed himself.
When asked if he has a €35m release clause during his post-match press conference following Sassuolo’s 3-2 defeat against Lecce on Sunday, Kone replied: “Yes.”
He went on to admit that he is happy with how things are going with Sassuolo at the minute, though: “I definitely want to carry on like this. I get along very well with the club and the supporters, but you never know what happens in football. You have to live in the moment, let’s see.”
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What happened
Sassuolo midfielder Ismael Kone confirmed in a post-match press conference that he has a €35m release clause in his contract. The Canada international has impressed in Serie A this season, recording six goals in 34 league appearances after joining from Marseille and making his move permanent in January. Recent Italian reports have linked both Milan and Inter with a possible summer move. Kone added that he feels good at Sassuolo and with the supporters, but left the door open by saying that in football 'you never know what happens.'
Chance analysis
This matters because it turns transfer speculation into a more actionable situation: the release clause is now publicly confirmed by the player himself. For Sassuolo, Kone's strong midfield output increases both his market value and the risk of a summer exit, while Milan and Inter gain a clearer benchmark if they decide to move. It is more relevant for squad planning than immediate match performance unless transfer momentum accelerates.
Kone's confirmed clause increases the realism of a summer transfer and slightly raises uncertainty around Sassuolo's medium-term midfield stability.
Treat this as a credible transfer signal with confirmed contractual detail, but low immediate match impact unless negotiations intensify.