Anwar El Ghazi says he has received a payout from Mainz after a German court found he was unfairly dismissed by the club over a social media post about the Israel-Gaza war.
The German club owed the 29-year-old the money in salary and bonuses that they would have had to pay in full by midnight July 30 in order to retain his services.
The footballer has said he has now received a payment of €1.5million (£1.27m, $1.68m) from Mainz relating to his dismissal. El Ghazi is still owed a further €200k in bonuses from Mainz.
The Athletic have approached Mainz for comment.
El Ghazi completed a transfer to Cardiff City last month as a free agent, following a German court ruling earlier in July that he was unfairly dismissed by Mainz.
On Friday, the twice-capped Netherlands international said he had received the money and would be making a €500k donation to children in Gaza.
“After receiving a substantial payment today from Mainz, I would like to make clear that my legal battle with Mainz has never, for me, been about the money,” El Ghazi said in a statement.
“I would like to take this moment to thanks Mainz for two things.
“Firstly, for the substantial pay off, 500k of which will be used to help fund projects for the children in Gaza. I hope Mainz, despite their repeated failed attempts to avoid making the due payment, take solace from the knowledge that they have, through me, contributed financially in trying to make life a little more bearable for the children of Gaza.
“Secondly, in attempting to silence me, making my voice even louder for the oppressed and voiceless in Gaza.”
El Ghazi had appeared in court (Arne Dedert/picture alliance via Getty Images)
Judge Chowdury at Mainz Labour Court ordered the club to pay El Ghazi €1.7m (£1.4m) back in salary and to allow him to return to work, as he has one year remaining on his contract. The two parties have been working on a settlement agreement for his release.
The judge had previously proposed a settlement on June 21, which Mainz rejected in favour of a court verdict.
El Ghazi’s contract was terminated on November 3, 2023, following an Instagram post expressing support for Palestinians. Mainz initially suspended El Ghazi in October, stating he had taken an “unacceptable” stance on the war.
El Ghazi played 119 times for Villa during his four years in the West Midlands (Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
Although his suspension was lifted a few days later after he showed “remorse,” he later stated on social media that he did not “regret” his post and stood for “humanity.” Mainz subsequently said in a short post on social media that they “fail to understand and are surprised by El Ghazi’s statement on his social media channels relating to the club”. They then terminated his contract two days later.
El Ghazi’s initial post, which has since been deleted, included the phrase “from the river to the sea,” which can be viewed as incitement for the destruction of Israel and is potentially criminally prosecutable in Germany. The American Jewish Committee defines the phrase as antisemitic as it calls for the elimination of the Jewish state.
The Netherlands international later attempted to clarify his post, stating that he stood “for peace above everything” and called for “more empathy” and a deeper understanding of the conflict’s history.
El Ghazi joined Mainz from PSV Eindhoven in September 2023 and signed a two-year contract. He made three substitute appearances in the Bundesliga before his exit.
The forward previously played for Ajax, Lille, Aston Villa and Everton.
(ANP via Getty Images)
