Matteo Guendouzi will automatically sign for Marseille at the end of the season, according to club president Pablo Longoria.

Speaking to RMC (via GFFN), Marseille president Pablo Longoria confirmed that Matteo Guendouzi will sign for them at the end of the season.

It’s been common knowledge for a long time that Guendouzi had an obligation to buy in his Marseille contract. But the obligation was only active under certain conditions.

That’s fairly standard practice with an obligation to buy. For example, Konstantinos Mavropanos’ loan will only automatically turn permanent if Stuttgart avoid relegation.

David Ospina’s 2018/19 loan to Napoli only turned permanent if he made 25 appearances.

The buying club usually puts in these conditions to ensure they’re buying a player they can afford and plan to use.

Guendouzi has now met these conditions, and Fabrizio Romano reports he’s already signed a three-year contract with Marseille.

If the obligation condition was an appearance clause, Guendouzi would have had no trouble activating it. The midfielder has made 38 appearances in all competitions, and he could well make many more before the season ends.

With Marseille fighting in Ligue 1 and the Europa Conference League, a 50-game season seems very possible.

Speaking late last year, Guendouzi explained why he was so keen to join Marseille.

“From the first conversation I had with Sampaoli and the president, Longoria, I knew this was the club that was made for me,” Guendouzi said.

“I knew it was this club, this project, and I think it’s the best choice I could have made in a long time.

“I know that if continue this way, we’re going to be able to do very nice things and I’m fully confident, I know that we’ll qualify for the Champions League next season.”

Perhaps Guendouzi and Arsenal will both take part in next season’s Champions League, but they won’t do so on the same side.