Philippe Sandler left Manchester City on a free transfer, his new club Feyenoord have confirmed.
Sandler, 24, has been around Pep Guardiola's first-team squad in recent years in between various loan spells and injury issues. He spent the first half of the season on loan at sister club Troyes, but was recalled in January and left permanently for Feyenoord on deadline day.
The deal was announced a day later, but had been completed before the transfer deadline, ending Sandler's three-and-a-half-year spell at City. He made just two senior appearances in that time, as well as making 11 appearances on loan at Vincent Kompany's Anderlecht and two at Troyes.
Now looking to resurrect his stuttering career back in the Netherlands, City allowed him to leave on a free transfer last month, with Feyenoord hailing his signing as a 'godsend'.
However, revealing details of the transfer, Feyenoord sporting director Frank Arnesen confirmed City have a buy-back option on Sandler, as well first refusal on any potential transfer in the future.
Quoted by Eindhoven Dagblad (via SportWitness), Arnesen said: “Philippe Sandler was free transfer and a godsend.
“We have an option to keep him for one or two more seasons from next summer. Manchester City has the right to buy him back.
“And if a club ever wants to take him over and makes an offer, then City can put down the same amount and make sure he returns there.”
The deal is similar to other sales City have negotiated in recent years, such as the departure of Angelino and subsequent buy-back a year later from PSV Eindhoven for £5.3m.
City could buy Angelino back for a second time should they wish, after his permanent move to RB Leipzig, this time for €40m, while they also included a similar option when selling Douglas Luiz to Aston Villa, although that has now expired.
