INEOS Grenadiers reportedly “within 24 to 48 hours” of Oscar Onley deal as seven million euro buyout looms

INEOS Grenadiers are reportedly closing in on the signing of Oscar Onley, with the British team believed to be approaching the final stages of negotiations with Picnic PostNL over a high value transfer.

According to cycling journalist Daniel Benson, the deal could be completed “within 24 to 48 hours”, although an agreement has not yet been finalised.

The key obstacle remains Onley’s existing contract, with the Scot still tied to Picnic PostNL for a further two seasons.

With no buyout clause included in that contract, any move would require INEOS Grenadiers to negotiate a substantial compensation payment directly with the Dutch WorldTour outfit.

Discussion around the scale of that buyout has intensified in recent days. On the WielerFlits Podcast, reporter Youri Ijnsen revealed the figure currently being mentioned in negotiations.

“The amount we are hearing being discussed is a buyout fee of seven million euros. That will probably come down a bit, but it is a huge sum,” Ijnsen said.

WielerFlits editor in chief Maxim Horssels urged caution over the exact final number, while still underlining the scale of the financial commitment involved.

“Normally you look at the value of the contract, and it is fairly unlikely that it will actually be seven million,” Horssels said.

Benson, citing multiple sources, has also reported that the compensation would run into the millions of euros and exceed Onley’s combined salary earnings from the previous two seasons.

For Picnic PostNL, a significant transfer fee would arrive at a critical moment. The team is currently operating under close scrutiny from the UCI, which has limited the duration of its WorldTour licence to a single year.

The UCI Licence Commission has imposed additional financial conditions that must be met for the team to secure licence extensions for the 2027 and 2028 seasons. Failure to satisfy those criteria could ultimately place the team’s WorldTour status at risk.

Under UCI regulations, licence applications are assessed across five areas, including financial, ethical, administrative, organisational and sporting criteria. The financial component has emerged as the most pressing concern for the Dutch squad.

Onley’s rising market value has been driven by a breakthrough season at the highest level. The 23-year-old finished fourth overall at the Tour de France, remaining in podium contention until the final stages of the race.

That result was backed up by consistent performances across the calendar, with top five finishes in several major stage races and a stage victory at the Tour de Suisse. His development into a reliable general classification contender has made him one of the most sought after riders on the transfer market.

As negotiations continue, the focus now centres on whether INEOS Grenadiers and Picnic PostNL can bridge the gap on valuation and complete a deal that would rank among the most expensive transfers in modern men’s road cycling.