Before a ball is kicked in training, Midtjylland's players are expected to be in the classroom. Three times a week, at minimum, English lessons are compulsory — as non-negotiable as a recovery session or a set-piece drill. It is, the club's technical director Kristian Kjær insists, the foundation upon which everything else is built.

"They are as important for them as it is to train," Kjær says. "Because if they cannot understand English within six months, they cannot communicate with the coach. So it's quite important for our common success."

The numbers suggest the approach is working. Midtjylland had already banked more than €200m (£170m) in transfer receipts since 2018 before this summer, and the window that has just closed stands as the most profitable in the Danish club's history. In the final 48 hours alone, two deals worth a combined €62m (£53.2m) were concluded — Guinea-Bissau striker Franculino Djú departing for Trabzonspor, and Chilean forward Darío Osorio completing a loan move to Crystal Palace with an obligation to buy.

Poster boys for a model

Kjær singles out Djú and Osorio as "poster boys for what we are trying to do". With 17 nationalities across five continents represented in the first-team squad, the club operates explicitly as an international outfit rather than a traditional Danish one. Coaches from around the world are brought in to ease transitions, and the English-language programme ensures a common tongue runs through every meeting room and dressing room conversation.

Osorio's journey is the story Midtjylland would most like the world to read. Spotted by their scouts while playing for Universidad de Chile, the club moved quickly to sign him in August 2023, beating off reported interest from RB Leipzig, Milan and Atalanta. He was 21, raw in certain areas of his game and, by Kjær's candid admission, arriving from a Chilean football environment that was not always built around elite lifestyle habits.

"Darío used to eat a lot of white bread for dinner and he couldn't understand why he was not fully energised in the morning," Kjær recalls. "That was one of the first things we did: look into his nutrition plan."

The results on the pitch followed quickly. Eight league goals in his debut season were just the beginning. By the time Palace came calling, Kjær was comfortable saying the Chilean had "been outgrowing the league for some time" and was "by far the best player by a distance".

A record Danish sale in the making

The fee for Osorio is on course to become the most expensive sale from the Danish top flight. Palace carry an obligation to pay £22.3m next summer, with a further £3.4m available in add-ons — figures confirmed just under two hours after the Premier League's own deadline had passed. The 22-year-old wasted little time making his presence felt in south London, starting the Carabao Cup win over Middlesbrough after coming off the bench against Fulham in the league.

Kjær is clear about what Palace are getting: a predominantly left-footed forward who is most comfortable as an inverted right-winger but capable of operating at number ten. "We believe he has the quality to be competitive in the Premier League, not as a sub but as a starting lineup player," he says.

Osorio was not the only headline departure from the Jutland club this window. Homegrown winger Aral Simsir and South Korean defender Lee Han-beom moved to Club Brugge for another €25m, while new arrivals included David Martínez, a 20-year-old Venezuela international signed from MLS side LAFC.

A sustainable machine

What makes Midtjylland's model compelling is its replicability. Rather than relying on chance or a single wealthy benefactor, the club operates a structured system: identify talent in underserved markets, integrate players thoroughly through language, nutrition and coaching support, develop them within a system built for international communication, then move them on at the right moment.

Since Matthew Benham sold his controlling stake to Danish businessman Anders Holch Povlsen in the same month Osorio arrived, the philosophy has remained intact. The classroom, it turns out, remains Midtjylland's most important piece of infrastructure.

Frequently asked

How much did Crystal Palace pay for Darío Osorio?
Crystal Palace have an obligation to pay £22.3m for Darío Osorio next summer, with up to a further £3.4m available in performance-related bonuses. The deal, which began as a loan, is set to become the most expensive sale in Danish top-flight history.
Why are Midtjylland so good at selling players?
Midtjylland combine smart global scouting with a thorough integration programme that includes mandatory English lessons three times a week, tailored nutrition plans and internationally experienced coaches. Since 2018 the club have raised more than £170m from player sales.
What position does Darío Osorio play?
Osorio is primarily an inverted right-winger who is predominantly left-footed, though he can also operate as a number ten. He made his first Crystal Palace start in the Carabao Cup and has also appeared in the Premier League.