Michael Olise took full advantage of his opportunity to impress then-Reading FC manager Jose Gomes on the final day of the 2018/19 Championship season.
In what was a rather forgettable 0-0 draw with Birmingham City, the young Frenchman’s talent shone through, making it clear he was destined for much more than just a cameo role at the club.
That glimpse of promise soon flourished. After a solid 2019/29 season, Olise exploded onto the scene under Veljko Paunovic during the 2020/21 campaign, tallying seven goals and 12 assists.
His vision, creativity and control made him the heartbeat of Reading’s play-off push in a campaign played behind closed doors due to the pandemic.
But Reading’s grip on their rising star was already slipping. His contract included a modest £8 million release clause, a figure that, in hindsight, significantly undervalued his ceiling.
With just a year left on that deal, and Premier League clubs circling, it was inevitable that Olise would move on. Crystal Palace triggered the clause in the summer of 2021, taking advantage of what now seems like a bargain.
Fast-forward three years, and Olise is no longer just a bright young talent.
He’s a European star, a Bundesliga champion, and arguably one of the continent’s most exciting attackers. It is no wonder that Reading fans reflect on the 2021 departure with such mixed emotions.
Michael Olise’s breakout campaign at Reading
Olise’s 2020/21 season was a special one. Playing in a classic Number 10 role, he provided the creative spark behind Reading’s play-off charge, linking up brilliantly with Lucas Joao, who netted 22 goals as the Royals finished seventh.
Despite his youth, Olise often looked like the most intelligent player on the pitch, able to drift past markers, pick out defence-splitting passes, and carry the ball with ease.
Michael Olise’s 2020/21 campaign at Reading (Transfermarkt)
Appearances
46
Goals
7
Assists
12
His composure and intelligence marked him as one of Reading’s best academy products in recent memory. But the sting remains, not because of his departure, but because he was allowed to go for so little.
That £8 million clause, inserted in the three-year deal he signed in 2019, was meant as a compromise, a way to keep him happy and ensure short-term commitment while providing an exit route if a bigger opportunity arose. In theory, it made sense. In practice, it cost Reading dearly.
From Selhurst Park to the Allianz Arena
Olise made an immediate impact at Crystal Palace despite battling several injury setbacks. Across his first two seasons in South London, he scored just six goals but registered a fantastic 19 assists.
The 2023/24 season saw him hit new heights. Under Oliver Glasner, Olise thrived, forming a lethal front three alongside Jean-Philippe Mateta and Eberechi Eze.
Despite only making 19 appearances due to injury, he scored 10 Premier League goals and added six assists, numbers that put him among the league’s most efficient attacking threats.
Bayern Munich, amid a transitional phase and hungry to reclaim the Bundesliga title, came calling with a £50.8 million offer. And Olise delivered.
In his first season in Bavaria, he played a pivotal role in returning the Meisterschale to the Allianz Arena. He finished the campaign level with Jamal Musiala on 12 goals and led the squad with 15 assists, comfortably ahead of star names Harry Kane (8) and Joshua Kimmich (6).
Olise also netted five Champions League goals to add to an impressive tally.
A bittersweet legacy for Reading
Michael Olise’s journey from Reading prospect to Bayern Munich superstar has been sensational. For the Royals, though, it is both a source of pride and lingering frustration.
On the one hand, they nurtured and developed a generational talent, one who has reached the highest level. On the other hand, they received just £8 million for a player now worth exponentially more.
The release clause that enabled his departure ultimately left the club short-changed, unable to benefit from their own developmental excellence.
The Royals will always have mixed feelings about the deal that sent Olise to Crystal Palace. They lost a gem for a fraction of his true value, a stark reminder of how contractual fine print can often shape the futures of both players and clubs, for better or worse.
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