WARSAW— The Polish transfer market was shaken up on the final day of the winter transfer window when Widzew Łódź officially finalized the purchase of center-back Steve Kapuadi from Legia Warsaw. The deal, confirmed on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, is worth a record €3 million in the Ekstraklasa. The French defender, previously a pillar of defense at Łazienkowska Street, has signed a contract with the Łódź club until June 30, 2030. The move sparked a wave of speculation in the football community, combining a massive financial outlay with the desperate fight for league survival by both title-winning clubs.
Key Technical Details of the Transaction
- Total amount:3,000,000 EUR (2 million base + 1 million bonuses).
- Contract expiration date:June 30, 2030
- Estimated annual earnings:950,000 euros.
- Previous stats (Legia):108 matches, 6 goals, 2 assists.
- Equivalent for Wisła Płock:approx. EUR 450,000 – 700,000 (% of sales clause).
Kapuadi’s move to Łódź sets a precedent in the history of internal transfers between Polish clubs. Although the base fee is €2 million, bonuses included in the agreement increase the final value of the transaction by another million, which at the current exchange rate amounts to nearly 13 million złoty.
According to sources familiar with the negotiations, this transaction also has a financial twist; a significant portion of this sum, estimated at 35%, will go to Wisła Płock, which secured a percentage in the previous sale of the player to Warsaw. For Widzew, currently 17th in the table, this is a shot at the tape to strengthen their defense ahead of the decisive phase of the season.
Legia Warsaw’s sporting director, Michał Żewłakow, in an official statement cited the need to stabilize the budget after a disappointing autumn. Sources within the club suggest that Kapuadi himself had been seeking a move for some time, especially after the failure of talks with Italian side Cremonese.
In the capital, the defender left behind a record of 108 appearances and two trophies – the Polish Cup and the Polish Super Cup, won last year. However, his departure to a direct rival in the relegation battle is being perceived by fans as a sign of a deep sporting crisis at Łazienkowska.
The Frenchman’s new contract puts him among the highest-paid players in league history. Unofficial figures indicate an annual salary of around €950,000, which, given the four-year contract, represents a significant financial burden for the Łódź club. This strategy is controversial among experts, who point to the risk of bankruptcy if they are relegated to the first division.
Nevertheless, Widzew’s management is counting on the experience of the 196 cm defender, who is expected to lead the lineup in the upcoming match against Pogoń Szczecin.
A spectacular transfer closes the most exciting transfer window in recent years in Poland. While Legia Warsaw seeks savings and new foundations to rebuild its power, Widzew Łódź has staked everything on one card, hoping that the most expensive defender in league history will save them from disaster.
The results of this risky gamble will be revealed in the coming months, which will determine the future of both distinguished brands at the highest level of competition.
Najdroższe transfery wewnątrz Ekstraklasy (Stan na 25.02.2026)
| Zawodnik | Z klubu | Do klubu | Kwota (EUR) | Data |
| Steve Kapuadi | Legia Warszawa | Widzew Łódź | 3,00 mln | Luty 2026 |
| Tomasz Pieńko | Zagłębie Lubin | Raków Częstochowa | 1,75 mln | Lato 2025 |
| Mariusz Fornalczyk | Korona Kielce | Widzew Łódź | 1,50 mln | Lato 2025 |
| Bartosz Slisz | Zagłębie Lubin | Legia Warszawa | 1,50 mln | Styczeń 2020 |
| Iwo Kaczmarski | Korona Kielce | Raków Częstochowa | 0,35 mln | Lato 2020 |
Najdroższe transfery przychodzące do ligi (All-time)
- Osman Bukari (Widzew Łódź, 2026) – 5,00 mln EUR
- Emil Kornvig (Widzew Łódź, 2026) – 3,50 mln EUR
- Steve Kapuadi (Widzew Łódź, 2026) – 3,00 mln EUR
- Mileta Rajović (Legia Warszawa, 2025) – 3,00 mln EUR
- Rúben Vinagre (Legia Warszawa, 2025) – 2,30 mln EUR
Rynek transferowy Ekstraklasy przeszedł w latach 2025–2026 gwałtowną ewolucję, zdominowaną przez finansową ofensywę Widzewa Łódź. Transfer Steve’a Kapuadiego za 3 mln euro ustanowił nowy rekord transakcji wewnętrznych, niemal podwajając poprzedni wynik Tomasza Pieńki. Ruch ten potwierdza nową strategię ligowych potentatów: agresywne wykupywanie zweryfikowanych gwiazd od bezpośrednich rywali.
Równocześnie wzrosła skala inwestycji zagranicznych. Ranking „All-time” otwierają rekordowe zakupy Widzewa (Bukari, Kornvig), które wraz z transferami Legii (Rajović, Vinagre) przesunęły barierę finansową ligi. Obecnie kwoty rzędu 3–5 mln euro stają się nowym standardem dla klubów aspirujących do dominacji, co dystansuje dotychczasowe rekordy sprzed 2024 roku.
