Patrick Dorgu looks set to be Lecce's biggest transfer profit to date

US Lecce look set to make a huge piece of profit with Patrick Dorgu’s €30 million+ move to Manchester United just days away from being announced. But this is not the first bit of smart business the Southern Italian club has made since their return to Serie A in 2022. Their savvy moves in the market have been an integral reason behind why Lecce has begun to establish themselves in the top flight, something they haven’t been able to do for two decades.

🚨🔴 Manchester United have sent new bid for Patrick Dorgu, as revealed today.

Proposal now in excess of €30m with club trying to get it done, also after green light from the player from two days ago.

Deal on. 🔛🇩🇰 pic.twitter.com/83UjKZPmjh

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 24, 2025

Lecce's recent history

Based on the Salentine Peninsula, Lecce is the only mainland club south of Rome playing in the Serie A currently other than Napoli. Whilst US Lecce seems like a successful club with players like Samuel Umtiti, Ante Rebic, Jesper Karlsson and Morten Hjulmand recently amongst their ranks, they in fact have embarked on a huge journey over the last 15 years right from the lower echelons of Italian football.

After bouncing between the first and second tier for a large part of their existence, in 2012 Lecce was demoted from the first to the third tier of Italian football for their involvement in the 2011-12 match-fixing scandal. After five long seasons in Serie C, the club achieved back-to-back promotions in 2018 and 2019, finally putting an end to half a decade of struggle.

Their first attempt to crack the top flight ended in relegation, but their second attempt - starting in the 2022-23 season - has seen them remain in Serie A since. Their ability to flip cheap signings into profit has been a huge part of their sustainability, without huge financial backing Lecce has to find a way to keep up with the rest of the league financially, and they do so with their player sales.

Sustainability through transfer profit

Their two seasons straight of net profit have seen sales of players like Hjulmand (who scored against England in the European Championship last summer) who transferred to Sporting Lisbon in the summer of 2023 for €19.5 million after being bought for €2.5 million two years prior. Other player profits include Marin Pongracic (signed for €1.6 million and sold for €15 million a year later in 2024), Valentin Gendrey (signed for €300k and sold for €8.5 million in 2024), Gabriel Strefezza (signed for €550k and sold for €5 million in 2024), Assan Ceesay (signed for free and sold for €2.8 million in 2023) and finally the aforementioned wingback Dorgu.

Danish international Patrick Dorgu will be Lecce’s best business yet, as he was signed from FC Nordsjaelland’s renowned youth academy for just €200k in 2023. His sale to Manchester United will make profits just shy of €30 million+. The youngster has had a fast rise to the top at Lecce eventually making his debut for Denmark in September 2024, how he would fit into Amorim's United team was covered in an article recently which you can read all about here.

The club made €21.55 million in profit from player sales last summer and reinvested that money strategically by signing the likes of Tete Morente for free, the player with the second most goal involvements at the club this season. Lecce also brought in the experienced Rebic, recently of AC Milan and Frankfurt for free, as well as starting goalkeeper Christian Fruchtl for just €1 million, all absolute bargains.

Lecce's potential future transfer profits

So who could be the next production of Lecce’s transfer strategy? Montenegrin striker Nikola Krstovic currently has 10 goals for club and country as of January this season and was signed for €3.9 million in 2023. As a young 24-year-old with a few more goals, he could be subject to a move that will make Lecce profit in upcoming years.

Nikola Krstović's hat-trick was incredible 🤯🇲🇪#NationsLeague pic.twitter.com/9D6XSlLIII

— UEFA EURO 2024 (@UEFAEURO) November 25, 2024

Lecce also has two young 23-year-old wingers making a good impression in Serie A. Argentinian Santiago Pierotti was signed a year ago for €1.2 million and has been a mainstay in Lecce’s starting XI.

Antonino Gallo with a perfect cross for Santiago Pierotti 🆙#LecceEmpoli pic.twitter.com/FHgYmswcCg

— Lega Serie A (@SerieA_EN) November 9, 2024

The other is Zambian international Lameck Banda, who was signed for €2 million, the winger has already enjoyed spells in Israel and Russia. Banda has seen his market value triple in the last couple of years and is part of Zambia’s growing generation of talent. This young squad should hopefully provide plenty of income so that Lecce can thrive in Serie A for years to come.

Late goal by Nikola Krstović 😱

The Lecce striker heads in Lameck Banda's cross to make it 2-1 against Mantova 🔥#CoppaItalia pic.twitter.com/vKxeBQM17l

— Premier Sports (@PremSportsTV) August 12, 2024