San Francisco 49ers star wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk officially requested a transfer on Tuesday.
Read more: 49ers All-Pro wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk has officially requested a transfer
After months of contract negotiations that failed to produce any results, Aiyuk has decided to officially submit his request to join a new team.
However, that doesn't mean the 49ers have to give him up.
Shortly after the trade request was reported, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that the 49ers had “no intention” of trading Aiyuk.
“Other teams that have contacted and spoken with San Francisco have been told that the 49ers have no intention of trading disgruntled WR Brandon Ayiuk, who has officially requested a transfer,” Shefter wrote.
LAS VEGAS, NV – FEBRUARY 11: Brandon Aiyuk #11 of the San Francisco 49ers looks on before Super Bowl LVIII against the Kansas City Chiefs at Allegiant Stadium on February 11, 2024 in Las…
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The 49ers begin training camp next week, and if Aiyuk isn't traded by then, he's expected to be there. Otherwise, he risks having to pay hefty fines the longer he's away from the team. It remains to be seen, however, how he would handle not being traded.
A transfer request is nothing new for the 49ers, especially when it involves a star player. Just two offseasons ago, star wide receiver Deebo Samuel officially requested a transfer from San Francisco after the two sides could not agree on a contract extension. However, the 49ers made it clear they would not part with him and agreed to a three-year, $71.55 million contract extension before the new season. Kicker Robbie Gould was another player who requested a transfer but later signed a new contract with San Francisco.
The drama surrounding Aiyuk and the 49ers continued throughout the offseason. There were a lot of conflicting reports about San Francisco possibly trading Aiyuk during the NFL Draft. Then, when a report came out in late June that the Washington Commanders had rejected a trade offer from the 49ers for Aiyuk, the wide receiver commented, “But I thought the Niners never wanted to trade me.”
Read more: Brandon Aiyuk calls out 49ers after rejected trade offer reported against him
A week earlier, Aiyuk had spoken to the Commanders' new quarterback, Jayden Daniels, on the phone and told him that the 49ers “don't want him back.”
Read more: 49ers star Brandon Aiyuk on transfer rumors: “They don’t want me back”
San Francisco general manager John Lynch announced at the beginning of the offseason that he wanted Aiyuk back. Star tight end George Kittle also said he expected Aiyuk to be back next season.
However, Aiyuk has been hinting at possible transfers all season and on Tuesday it sounded like he had officially submitted his transfer request.
Now it's up to the 49ers to either give him the contract he wants or the trade he wants.
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Newsweek's goal is to challenge conventional wisdom and make connections while searching for common ground.
Newsweek's goal is to challenge conventional wisdom and make connections while searching for common ground.
