Christ Inai Oulai is expected to travel to Florence on Friday evening to complete his transfer to Fiorentina after contractual disputes were resolved. The 20-year-old Ivory Coast international had been due to fly to Italy earlier in the day, but the journey was postponed while legal representatives reviewed the documentation.
Clarification on disappearance reports
Confusion surrounded the midfielder’s whereabouts on Friday after he failed to appear for his scheduled flight from Istanbul. Local reports in Turkiye had suggested bizarre circumstances, including claims that an impostor posing as a Trabzonspor official had collected him from the airport.
However, Sky Sport Italia clarified that Oulai had not been the victim of any attempted kidnapping. Instead, the player had requested that his lawyer examine the transfer contracts independently before he committed to the move. Sportitalia and SpaceViola subsequently reported that the contracts have now been signed, clearing the way for him to complete the transfer.
Deal structure and financial terms
The transfer is understood to be worth €30 million including performance-related add-ons. Trabzonspor have also negotiated a 20 per cent sell-on clause, ensuring they will benefit from any future transfer fee.
The Turkish club stand to make a significant profit on a player they signed from French side Bastia just last year for €5.5 million. That agreement also included a 20 per cent profit-share clause, meaning Bastia will receive a portion of the difference between the original fee and the final sum paid by Fiorentina.
International pedigree
Despite his youth, Oulai has already established himself at senior international level. He has earned 13 caps for Ivory Coast and represented his country at the recent World Cup finals in North America.
During his single season with Trabzonspor, Oulai made 31 appearances across all competitions, contributing two goals and four assists. Fiorentina will hope the midfielder can continue his rapid development in Serie A following his anticipated arrival in Tuscany.