€8m market value
©TM/IMAGO
Colorado Rapids defender Lucas Herrington is reportedly on the verge of signing for Hull City in a deal that is expected to shatter multiple transfer records. The 18-year-old, who has a market value of €8 million, is set to join the newly-promoted Premier League side in a €21.5m transfer with add-ons yet to be determined. The deal will make him the most expensive Australian player in history, in addition to breaking Hull’s record for a new arrival and representing Colorado’s biggest sale.
According to journalist Rudy Galetti, a 15 per cent sell-on clause has been inserted from Colorado’s side as they expect him to play at the highest level. Herrington has only played in Major League Soccer for six months after arriving from Brisbane Roar for €900k, but his rapid rise has convinced Hull to spend big to secure his signature. Their current transfer record stands at €15.4m when they signed Ryan Mason from Tottenham in 2016. Assuming the final details are resolved without issue, he will easily surpass that.
Prior to the World Cup, Manuel Veth, Transfermarkt’s Area Manager for North America, predicted Herrington was destined for big things: “He is a tremendous talent. One of the best centre-backs in MLS. In retrospect, it’s a little surprising that he didn’t go to Europe right away and went to MLS first. There is a bit of an Australia-to-MLS pipeline going on at the moment because of the difference in salary and MLS teams are going there more often to fish for talent now. Herrington will probably leave soon. His market value is already €4.5m and will be a starter for Australia at the World Cup.”
The teenager was a late addition to Australia’s World Cup squad after he won his second senior cap for the Socceroos in a friendly against Mexico. However, he quickly proved to be capable at that level and started their final two games of the tournament. Herrington was commended for stepping up to take a penalty in the Round of 32 fixture against Paraguay, only to strike the crossbar with his effort. But his bravery resonated with Australia fans and showed he has a mature head on his young shoulders.
It also marks a historic moment for Australian and American soccer. As the graphic above shows, the current transfer record for an Australian player stands at €17m, which Leicester City paid to sign Harry Souttar from Stoke City. But it appears as though Herrington will surpass that, while the highly-rated centre-back is poised to obliterate Colorado’s previous highest sale. It would be three times as expensive as the €7m fee they received for selling Moïse Bombito to OGC Nice in 2024.
For Herrington, the move represents a possible stepping stone to a bigger move in the future. While Barcelona and Liverpool have shown their interest, the youngster needs to play regularly at this stage in his career and doing so is the best course of action for his development. In Hull’s case, the Tigers are one of the pre-season favourites to be relegated, but signing a possible star for the future in Herrington gives them some options in terms of a big sale if he impresses in his first season.
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