Lechia Gdańsk returned to the Ekstraklasa after only a year’s absence. The team, coached by Szymon Grabowski, won direct promotion from the first league and is already active on the transfer market. So far, Lechia has bought Rifet Kapić from the Latvian Valmiera for 750 thousand euros and signed Szymon Weirauch from Zagłębie Lubin. According to information from Interia, Serhiy Bułeca from Dynamo Kyiv, who was loaned to Zagłębie Lubin last season, may join Lechia.
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It is worth recalling that initially Lechia did not receive a license to play in the Ekstraklasa due to the decision of the Polish Football Association Committee for Club Licenses. This had an impact on financial arrears to Mario Maloca and David Stec and Artur Wolski’s management agency. The amount was supposed to be 700 thousand zlotys. However, all arrears were paid off. Now one of Lechia’s former players will sue the club.
A former Lechia footballer is fighting in court. He is demanding over a million euros
In this case, it is Ilkay Durmus, who played for Lechia from 2021 to 2023. His first contract ran until June 2023, while the second was signed until June 2026. Last summer, Durmus called on Lechia to pay five months of arrears, starting from February 2023. “Durmus has decided to leave the club and is demanding through FIFA that he receives his salary until June 2025. We are not going to allow that,” Lechia owner Paolo Urfer said, as quoted by the club’s official website.
– Our lawyers are prepared, and Durmus had no right to make such demands. He will have to compensate the club for the losses incurred as a result of his unacceptable behavior – added Urfer. It is worth adding that Durmus terminated the contract due to the club’s fault after waiting 14 days after sending a demand for payment. Durmus is demanding over one million euros from Lechia, and FIFA sided with the player in the first instance.
Portal meczyki.pl informs that on Thursday several people who held or hold various positions in Lechia were questioned as witnesses. This case will most likely not be resolved so quickly. “The case is quite complicated from a legal perspective and requires a thorough study. Demanding money for the second part of the 22/23 season is a completely understandable matter on Durmus’ part. He performed duties for the employer, who was obliged to settle the liabilities towards him,” we read in the article.
Interia reported that Durmus was earning 17 thousand euros per month under his first contract with Lechia. He earned slightly more under his second contract – 23 thousand euros per month. The player is demanding over one million euros in arrears, 36 monthly payments under the new contract and interest.
Durmus is currently a player of Górnik Łęczna, where he joined in September last year without a transfer fee. The Turk’s contract is valid until June 2025. Durmus played in 23 matches last season, scoring two goals and notching one assist.
