Tribunal to tidy up Edman switch

Last updated : 26 January 2005 By Alistair Murray

Those working on behalf of his former club, Heerenveen negotiated a much larger transfer sum from the north Londoners than the player had been led to believe when he signed the contract.

Following the player’s impressive Euro 2004 campaign for Sweden, the Dutch club found themselves in a stronger position to raise the stakes and demand a larger fee from a buyer. Edman was shocked to discover the agreed fee between the two clubs had risen by almost a million euros.

Edman thought Spurs had stumped up only €1.5m in transfer fees, when in fact Tottenham’s director of sport Frank Arnesen had agreed a fee closer to €2.4m with Heerenveen. The Dutch club and its agents had agreed between them that 50% of the fee Edman was sold on for would end up in the agent’s hands, if they could successfully strike a deal above €2m.

Edman could now receive payments he feels are owed to him, and his previous club AIK Stockholm could be entitled to a 10% selling-on fee once a tribunal verdict is reached in Holland next month.

"Heerenveen had always been a good club for me and I was very happy to get the chance to play for Tottenham. I didn't see that there was a problem at the time," said Edman.