Napoli send Gutierrez to Bayer Leverkusen for €30m, but Lindstrom to Schalke collapses
Quick summary
Napoli have sold Gutierrez to Bayer Leverkusen for €30 million, while a proposed loan move for Jesper Lindstrom to Schalke has broken down.
Full article
Attributed to original sourceThere is mixed news for Napoli, as while Miguel Gutierrez flies out for his €30m Bayer Leverkusen move, the sale of Jesper Lindstrom to Schalke 04 has sensationally collapsed.
The Partenopei are under transfer limitations this summer, meaning they must sell players before they can be allowed to bring in any reinforcements.
Napoli sell Gutierrez, stuck with Lindstrom NAPLES, ITALY – MARCH 14: Miguel Gutierrez of SSC Napoli battles for possession with Lameck Banda of US Lecce during the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and US Lecce at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on March 14, 2026 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images) There is one departure in full flow, as Gutierrez missed today’s training session with Napoli and travelled to Germany, where he will undergo a medical with Bayer Leverkusen.
The cost of that sale is expected to be €30m including add-ons , a healthy profit considering they paid €18m plus bonus to get him from Girona only a year ago.
The 25-year-old left-back was not a first choice in Italy, making just 36 competitive appearances for the club last season, starting just 18 of them.
UDINE, ITALY – MAY 06: Jesper Lindstrøm of SSC Napoli looks on during the Serie A TIM match between Udinese Calcio and SSC Napoli at Dacia Arena on May 06, 2024 in Udine, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images) However, Sky Sport Italia report the transfer of Lindstrom to Schalke 04 has sensationally collapsed at the last minute.
The Denmark international was already in Germany for the medical tests, agreeing personal terms.
It was meant to be a free loan with option to buy for €5m plus add-ons , turning it into an obligation if certain conditions were met.
This is where it all went wrong, as Bild claim that Schalke felt upset at certain changes between the verbal agreement and the written contract.
Suddenly the German side pulled out of the whole deal and Lindstrom should fly back to Italy.
The 26-year-old was a disastrous signing for Napoli, arriving from Eintracht Frankfurt for €30m in 2023, but immediately going off on loan to Everton and Wolfsburg after failing to make an impact.
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What happened
Napoli have completed the sale of Gutierrez to Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen for a reported €30 million fee, representing a significant financial boost for the Serie A club. However, a separate deal that would have seen Danish winger Jesper Lindstrom depart on loan to Schalke has collapsed at the final stage. The failure of the Lindstrom loan means the former Eintracht Frankfurt attacker remains in Napoli's squad, creating a potential squad-planning headache for the club's management ahead of the remainder of the window.
Chance analysis
The €30m sale of Gutierrez to Leverkusen strengthens Napoli's financial position and suggests active squad trimming, but the collapse of the Lindstrom loan to Schalke leaves a surplus attacker in their ranks. For Leverkusen, the addition reinforces their squad depth, likely in a developmental or rotational role. The failed Lindstrom move indicates Napoli may need to find another exit for the Danish international or reintegrate him, which could affect their tactical options and squad balance.
Leverkusen strengthen their squad with a new arrival; Napoli gain financial flexibility but face a squad-planning issue with Lindstrom remaining at the club.
Napoli gain €30m in transfer revenue but retain an unwanted attacker in Lindstrom after the Schalke loan collapsed, potentially affecting squad harmony and tactical flexibility.