Brexit may stop young players moving abroad
Path taken by Sancho would not be possible FA looks to cap number of clubs’ foreigners at 13
Britain’s most promising young footballers could be denied moves to foreign clubs after Brexit, The Daily Telegraph can reveal.
An investigation by this newspaper has discovered players such as Jadon Sancho – whose form with Borussia Dortmund after moving there aged 17 has seen him elevated to the England squad – would have been prevented from moving if Britain had already withdrawn from the European Union.
Under current Fifa rules, it is forbidden for players under 18 to be sold to overseas clubs. The only exceptions are for players aged 16 and 17, who are allowed to move within countries in the European Economic Area.
The Telegraph understands the future eligibility of British players abroad is a matter of serious concern for the Football Association and Professional Footballers’ Association. Fears it will become harder for young players to move abroad – something which has become increasingly popular, given the lack of first-team opportunities at Premier League level – are likely to strengthen the FA’S resolve to change the eligibility rules for foreign players in the Premier League and so open up more playing time for young English players.
The FA has suggested the number of overseas players per firstteam squad be reduced from 17 to 13 after Brexit, although this is not supported by the Premier League. A compromise figure is likely.
Sancho is not alone in moving abroad. Jonathan Panzo, who helped England Under-17s reach the 2017 World Cup final, signed for Monaco from Chelsea this summer, while Noni Madueke moved to PSV Eindhoven from Tottenham aged
16. All these moves would be impossible post-brexit.
Last month Gareth Southgate, the England manager, called Sancho “brave” for moving abroad and applauded other players for doing the same.
“If English clubs are not giving you a chance then abroad is always an option,” Sancho said recently. “I’m not saying English clubs don’t believe in your ability, I’m just saying I think they [Bundesliga clubs] look at it earlier.
“It’s taking my game to a different level, only because I’m playing and getting the chance to show the world what I can do on the pitch.”
Those sentiments have been echoed by Eric Dier, the England international who spent his formative years in Portugal. “I don’t know what the implications [of Brexit] are, but I hope players continue to do what Jadon is doing,” he said. “That’s so important for their development, not just as a footballer but as a man as well.”
Brexit may also make it harder for British players over the age of 18 to move abroad. There are more than 20 British players playing for European teams, but a significant number may have found it harder to make their moves were the United Kingdom not a member of the EEA. Many European leagues enforce eligibility laws on foreign players, who must be of a certain pedigree to be granted permission to play. A number of leagues also operate hard caps on non-eea players: Spain has a cap of three per club and France a cap of four.
The Telegraph understands there is no indication of European leagues changing their rules to give a special exemption to UK players.
There are no restrictions in the top two divisions in Germany on foreign players, provided they are over 18, so players such as Reiss Nelson, who has excelled on loan at Hoffenheim this season, would be unaffected. Holland stipulates players must earn more than €420,000 (£370,000) if they are 20 or over and have played a significant number of matches in a leading league or represented their country.
British players already at European clubs could be granted special exceptions in order to remain, as they were EEA players when they were registered, according to Laura Mccallum, a sports lawyer with Lombardi Associates.
It is unclear whether the new rules will begin to affect British players – including those aged 16 and 17 – from March or whether they would continue to be treated as if they were EEA players for the duration of any transition period between the UK and EU. An FA spokesperson said: “We are continuing to work with the Premier League, EFL and a range of Government departments during this consultation period.”