Erling Haaland reacts as cousin Jonatan Braut Brunes leaves Raków Częstochowa for Sparta Prague in a deal worth over €6 million

The transfer of Jonatan Braut Brunes from Raków Częstochowa to Sparta Prague was confirmed on Saturday, 25 July 2026. The 25-year-old Norwegian striker, who had been one of the standout performers in the Polish Ekstraklasa, moves for a reported six million euros, with bonus clauses that could lift the total value of the deal above seven million euros. The move makes him the second most expensive departure in Raków’s history, behind only Ante Crnac’s transfer to Norwich City for over ten million euros. Brunes’ contract with the Polish club had been due to run until 2028, making Sparta’s outlay particularly significant for a player entering his prime.

Transfer to Sparta Prague

Brunes arrived in Częstochowa on 26 July 2024, purchased from Belgian side OH Leuven for 1.5 million euros. Over two full seasons he became a central figure in the attack under coach Dawid Szwarga. The move to the Czech champions had been foreshadowed on Thursday when Brunes was left out of the squad for a UEFA Conference League qualifier against Valletta FC; the club acknowledged he did not play in order to avoid being cup‑tied for another team in European competitions this season. Sparta Prague, who won the Czech title, now pay a substantial fee to secure a forward whose scoring record and European experience add immediate depth ahead of their Champions League qualifying campaign.

Haaland’s celebration

The transfer prompted a swift reaction from Erling Haaland, the Manchester City forward and Brunes’s cousin, who posted on Instagram shortly after the announcement. He shared three childhood photographs of the pair in the shirts of Bryne FK, the Norwegian club where both began their football journeys, and wrote a short message.

The post was interpreted as a celebration of the cousins having both achieved success in professional football. Haaland, who was a central figure in Norway’s recent World Cup run, has publicly referenced his family connection before, and the Instagram post quickly drew coverage in Poland, where Brunes had become a well‑known name during his time at Raków.

Brunes’ record at Raków

During his two years in the Ekstraklasa, Brunes made 82 appearances and scored 40 goals across all competitions. His first goal came on 23 August 2024 away at Lechia Gdańsk, and he went on to play a decisive role in the club’s campaign. Raków finished as league vice‑champions and reached the final of the Polish Cup, while also advancing to the round of 16 in the 2024‑25 Conference League. His consistency, averaging roughly a goal every other game, attracted interest from several clubs, including Slavia Prague a year earlier, but no deal materialised until Sparta’s current offer.

What comes next

Sparta Prague enter the third qualifying round of the Champions League against Olympique Lyon, giving Brunes a chance to debut in the competition. For Raków, the sale brings in one of the largest transfer fees in its history, but also leaves a gap in attack as the club continues its own European campaign. Brunes’s departure closes an important chapter for the Częstochowa side, while the forward steps into a new role at one of Central Europe’s most prominent clubs.