Juan Soto makes history by signing world's richest sports contract ever with New York Mets for $765,000,000
The 26-year-old baseball outfielder has landed himself the largest deal in professional sports history
Juan Soto is reportedly set to sign a $765 million deal with Major League Baseball's New York Mets.
On Sunday (December 8), the Mets are reported as having offered the baseball outfielder - full name Juan José Soto Pacheco - a 15-year contract for a staggering amount of money, according to multiple sources.
And the deal doesn't just stop there either.
What is the deal?
Soto has just spent one season with rivals The New York Yankees, who reportedly offered him $760 million for a 16-year contract, however, representatives for the baseball player stated that he would be signing with the biggest deal which comes his way.
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And this deal certainly dwarves all others, multiple sources telling MLB The Mets deal with the 26-year-old is for a whopping $765 million, including a $75 million signing bonus alongside an op-out after five seasons and no deferred money - the contract ultimately potentially ending up worth over $800 million.
And other historical deals don't even really come close in comparison.
Historical deals
In March, 2021, Francisco Lindor signed with the New York Mets for a 10-year contract worth $341 million, and in March 2019, Mike Trout signed to the Los Angeles Anegls for 12 years for a mega $426.5 million.
In December 2023, Japanese baseball player, Shohei Ohtani, signed a decade-long contract too - worth an eye-watering $700m - with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
However, Soto's deal ultimately overtakes them all and is, on record, the largest in professional sports history.
And it's not taken long for baseball fans to weigh in.
One Twitter user said: "Holy moly, that’s more than enough! That’s $51 million per year.
That’s $980,769 per week! Overpaid? Yeah my boss thinks I’m overpaid at $1000 per week."
"You could buy an entire team with that much money," another added.
A third commented: "Baseball clears every sport tbf," while a fourth resolved: "CHRISTMAS CAME EARLY."
Granted, it's a hell of a lot of money, but Soto's deal very much reflects his stellar career so far, despite only still being 26 years old.
He's become known as one of the greatest hitters the sport has ever had, breaking into the league when he was just 19.
Soto already has 201 home runs to his name, alongside a 2020 bating title and five Silver Slugger Awards.
MLB reports: "In 4,088 career plate appearances, Soto owns a .285/.421/.532 slash line. His on-base percentage is the best among active Major Leaguers."
Poppy Bilderbeck