A massive transfer deep into December: Oscar Onley signs for INEOS Grenadiers after all

Oscar Onley is leaving Picnic PostNL. This was announced by the Dutch formation on Tuesday evening. The young Brit will move to INEOS Grenadiers, which managed to land a massive deal this late in the transfer window. For Picnic PostNL, the timing is anything but ideal, but the formation announced that the offer was too good to turn down.

"Team Picnic PostNL have agreed to the transfer of Oscar Onley," the team began in a press release. "Following his fantastic Tour de France, the team received multiple offers for Oscar’s release, all of which were initially declined. However, a very late but appealing offer was made in recent days."

That proposal was too good to turn down. Or as the Dutch formation puts it: "The proposal was not one Oscar or the team could refuse and an agreement has now been reached." An agreement has since been reached and so we are going to see Onley in the INEOS jersey after the turn of the year. That transfer had been in the air for a while.

"I’m extremely proud of what I’ve achieved with this team," the Britn himself announced. "Progressing through from the Development program to finishing 4th at the Tour de France has been incredible, and a real testament to what this team is able to do with riders. Both Team Picnic PostNL and INEOS Grenadiers have a great history of racing for victories in Grand Tours, and I know for a fact that both my current and new team will continue to do so in the coming years."

"The opportunity to represent the team of my home country was one I could not refuse and I’m happy that a solution was found," the Tour number four continued. "I’ll hold the memories made with this team close, and I know I’ll face tough competition from the next generation of talents they develop in the years to come."

Picnic PostNL head coach Rudi Kemna adds. "Our team is all about getting the most out of our riders, and we have a credible track record of doing so. What Oscar has achieved this year is testament to that. We of course would have loved to have kept Oscar but knowing the young riders in our team and those coming through our Development program, we’re confident that the next generation is on the brink of becoming world-class riders."