Ex-Barcelona and Championship star rips up his own contract after activating shock release clause to become free agent
MARTIN BRAITHWAITE is a free agent after ripping up his own contract at Espanyol.
The former Middlesbrough striker activated a release clause in his deal with the Spanish club.
As a result, he is now free to join another side after departing Espanyol a year early.
His contract had been due to expire at the end of the upcoming season.
In a statement, Espanyol said: “RCD Espanyol thanks Braithwaite for his professionalism and wishes him luck in his new professional challenges.”
Braithwaite joined Espanyol from Barcelona in 2022, scoring 32 goals in 78 appearances across two seasons.
However, he could not prevent the club from avoiding relegation from La Liga in 2023, before a fourth place finish in the second tier last term.
Despite missing out on promotion, the 33-year-old finished as the league’s top scorer with 22 goals.
Prior to his spell in Spain, the Dane spent two years in England with Middlesbrough.
He scored nine goals in 40 appearances in between loan spells at Bordeaux and Leganes.
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At international level, Braithwaite has ten strikes in 69 caps for Denmark.
Being a free agent is unlikely to have an immediate financial impact on the forward thanks to his business portfolio away from football.
Braithwaite has amassed a net worth of £250million to become one of the sport’s richest players.
His wealth is mainly thanks to his investment in a real estate business in 2017.
Meanwhile, he also owns a clothing line and a restaurant in Barcelona with his wife.