Forward was developed at QPR’s academy before move to Liverpool in 2010Deal included 20% sell-on clause on any profit from subsequent sale

Queens Park Rangers are set to earn what will, in effect, be their record incoming fee in the wake of Liverpool’s sale of Raheem Sterling to Manchester City courtesy of a clause inserted into the deal which took the young player from Loftus Road to Anfield five years ago.

Sterling, who was born in Jamaica and moved to London at the age of seven, was developed at QPR’s academy before Liverpool prised him away in February 2010 for an initial £600,000. That fee had the potential to rise as high as £5m because it was linked to appearances made in the first team and honours secured.

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While the 129 games played by Sterling, now 20, for Liverpool are unlikely to have maximised those add-ons, there was also a 20% sell-on clause included in the agreement on any profit from a subsequent sale.

The precise fees and commitments that have been and will be met by Liverpool to QPR are confidential but, given the England international is costing City £44m with a further £5m linked to honours and appearances, QPR, relegated from the Premier League in May, will bank a minimum of £7.8m from his switch to Manchester.

In reality that figure is likely to be significantly higher. QPR’s biggest previous sales have been Christopher Samba, at £12m, and Loïc Rémy, at around £8m, to Anzhi Makhachkala and Chelsea respectively but neither of those deals secured a profit for the club because of the fees that had brought them to Loftus Road.

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The money from Sterling’s move could yet be eclipsed by the sale of Charlie Austin this summer. QPR are holding out for £15m for the England squad player who has entered the final 12 months of his contract.

The club’s lawyers are still in dialogue with the Football League challenging the governing body’s financial fair play rules but are confident the threat of a potential £58m fine – a legacy of their promotion-winning campaign of 2013-14 – will be warded off.