The paucity of English opportunity thread

Premier League have really won! So much for the FA really wanting to reduce the number of overseas players, lol! I think they wanted 12 Homegrown players but instead now agreed for it to remain the same!

 

Some more information from The Athletic:


Additional contributors: Laurie Whitwell and Matt Slater

The United Kingdom’s membership of the European Union will end in just over four weeks’ time and that momentous split ensures change is coming across all walks of life from January 1, 2021. Football is no exception.

The recruitment strategies and transfer policies of Premier League and EFL clubs will be altered after Brexit too, with new obstacles placed in the way of signing new players from overseas.

No under-18s can be signed from overseas in January and a new framework has been drawn up that limits the foreign players able to join an English club. Even managers and coaches from outside of the UK will be asked to meet new criteria.

The Athletic assesses what has changed and explains what that means for English football…

How different is football going to look in a post-Brexit UK?

New regulations for player transfers were approved by the Football Association, Premier League, and EFL last month and have now been signed off by the government.

The UK’s departure from the European Union means players from the continent can no longer move freely into the country, with new entry requirements in place to cover next month’s January transfer window.

That prevents clubs from signing anyone under the age of 18 from overseas, while any new recruit from Europe must qualify for a “Governing Body Endorsement” (GBE). That is a points-based system, with a player’s eligibility assessed by a range of factors, including international experience, as well as the league and the team he has been signed from. More on that later.

The impact of these changes promises to be far-reaching and lasting.

“The system that’s been devised will have a big impact because clubs will have to factor in whether the player will be able to come to the UK,” said Andrew Osborne, a specialist sports lawyer and the head of Lewis Silkin’s immigration practice. “That adds an extra level of consideration.

“The problem for clubs is that this is more complicated than previous systems and they’ve only got four weeks to get used to them. They will have to assess their targets to see if they’ll qualify.

“Probably the biggest impact is going to be that clubs won’t be able to sign players under 18 anymore. The concessions that applied around the transfer of players aged 16 to 18 within the EU, we won’t get once we leave. That will move the focus of a club’s recruitment.”

Did clubs know this ruling was coming?

Oh yes. Just look at the recruitment strategies in the Premier League over the summer. This was last orders at the bar before things got a whole lot more complicated.

Take Chelsea, winners of the FA Youth Cup six times in the last nine years, as an example. They signed Aleksi Heino (16) from FC Turku in September, goalkeeper Sami Tlemcani (16) from Paris FC in October and midfielder Edwin Andersson (17) from IFK Gothenburg last month. They also snared 17-year-old Bryan Fiabema from Tromso in February and 16-year-old Jimi Tauriainen from Helsingin Jalkapalloklubi in the summer.

And they were not alone. Manchester United’s academy recruitment this summer had a heavy emphasis on overseas signings, with six players from abroad under the age of 18 joining the club. Sources say that while scouts had been tracking the targets for a considerable length of time, and a paucity of local first-year scholars meant there were spaces to fill, the incoming regulations around Brexit were a factor in the scale of influx.

Three Spaniards arrived at United, with full-backs Alvaro Fernandez and Marc Jurado coming from Real Madrid and Barcelona respectively, and Alejandro Garnacho, a winger, leaving Atletico Madrid.

Radek Vitek, a 17-year-old goalkeeper, joined from Czech Republic side Olomouc. Isak Hansen-Aaroen, a 16-year-old forward, signed from Tromso as part of United’s strategic agreement with the Norwegian club. Willy Kambwala, a 16-year-old centre-back and captain of France’s under-17s, arrived from Sochaux in a deal that could reach €4 million.

Fernandez, 17, has made a notable impact already, starting five Premier League 2 games for Neil Wood’s under-23 side.

United also signed two 18-year-olds in Facundo Pellistri and Amad Diallo, for a combined total potentially worth up to £47 million. Both players have been extensively tracked but United pressed the button on bids before any rule changes could count against them — much to the surprise of some of their rivals, who could not afford such a significant outlay at the time.

Aston Villa were another club to be busy this summer. They have signed a glut of 16-year-olds: Lamare Bogarde from Feyenoord, Vitesse Arnhem defender Sil Swinkels and Aaron O’Reilly, another defender, from St Patrick’s. Villa were said to be very aggressive in their pursuit of players in that age group, beating Arsenal and Tottenham to Bogarde.

Villa purposely watched a lot of players around the age of 16 and continued to scout heavily earlier this year, knowing the summer represented a last chance to sign players of that age before the Brexit rules came in.

What does it mean for future recruitment?

The inability to sign players under 18 will undeniably change the dynamics of youth recruitment.

It has become common practice for Premier League clubs to add under-18s to their academy ranks, nurturing the most promising youngsters at close-hand, but those days are now at an end.

Clubs, though, have already eyed up a way around these restrictions. A link-up with an overseas club would allow any highly-rated youngster to be parked there until turning 18, when he would then be free to move to England.

Manchester City’s owners have shares in Spanish club Girona, along with eight others around the globe as part of the City Football Group. The owners of Leicester City, too, have full control of Belgian side OH Leuven. Brighton owner Tony Bloom bought Belgian side USG in 2018, while Sheffield United have ties with Beerschot, current leaders of the Jupiler League. Those arrangements have allowed clubs to farm out youngsters to gain experience but there is no reason why that link cannot be used to ringfence any youngster eyed up on the continent.

Expect other Premier League clubs to forge ties with their European counterparts. Sources now expect Manchester United, for instance, to press ahead with a search for a European partner club. An agreement could allow players of interest under 18 to stay with such a sister side until of age to transfer.

Why will clubs not be able to buy under-18s any more?

This is a FIFA rule, set out in their regulations for the transfer of players between countries. Brexit ends the previous freedom of movement between the UK and EU and ensures the days of English clubs landing under-18 players from the continent are over.

Cesc Fabregas, who joined Arsenal as a 16-year-old in 2003, would have been denied that move from Barcelona, as would Hector Bellerin. Manchester City’s move Eric Garcia, another to leave Barcelona aged 16 in 2017, would also have been put on hold had the new rules been in place.

The new rules also stipulate that Premier League clubs will only be allowed to sign six under-21 players per season from 2021-22, with only three permitted in the upcoming January window. Clubs in the EFL will not face those limits.

Who are the winners and losers?

The FA, Premier League and EFL all declared themselves satisfied with the changes. “The Premier League has worked with the FA to come to an agreement to ensure no part of Brexit should damage the success of the Premier League, or the prospects of the England teams,” said Richard Masters, the Premier League’s chief executive.

There is a commitment from all parties to review the process ahead of the 2021 summer window but there has been some concession to reach this middle ground.

The FA were keen to increase the number of England-qualified or homegrown players in a Premier League club’s 25-man squad from eight to 12 only to meet with resistance from the top flight. There was no mention of that in the statement released but it is understood the FA has backed down on its desire to put a hard cap on the number of foreign players by holding the line on the quality of those signed. This has been considered to be a satisfactory compromise that does not overly inhibit Premier League clubs’ recruitment, while also ensuring the best English players do not have their pathway blocked at a young age.

How is the points-based system going to work?

For the large majority of signings from Europe, there will not be any obstacles. Any international player who regularly represents a nation ranked in the top 50 of the FIFA rankings will be given an automatic pass, while any new recruit from a Band 1 league (Bundesliga, La Liga, Serie A and Ligue 1) will also be very close to qualifying.

Ultimately, it needs 15 points for a player and the signing club to be granted a GBE. That can come from six different categories, including the players’ international status, the league they have been signed from, minutes played in continental competitions and the success of their last club. The more they have played at a higher level, the greater the points awarded.

Players facing the greatest difficulties could be those signed from Scandinavia. A new recruit from Denmark’s Superliga would be granted four points initially and then another four points if they have played more than 90 per cent of minutes for their club. As many as six points could be available if the title had been won with the selling club but further points would still be needed from international or continental experience.

Players aged 21 or under face slightly different criteria, with the onus again focused on the calibre and pedigree of the signing.

Should a new recruit only be able to tot up between 10 and 14 points in the January window, they would need to have their case heard by an “Exceptions Panel” made up of three independent figures. A GBE will be granted if it can be shown “exceptional circumstances prevented the player from achieving 15 points, and if those exceptional circumstances did not apply, the player would have achieved 15 points”. A youth player, aged 18-21, would need to show “significant potential and is of sufficient quality to justify” a GBE.

There are similarities to existing rules for the recruitment of non-EU players but with important differences.

“The new system is focused on playing criteria, with a range of options for clubs to show a player is playing at a high level,” added Osborne. “The traditional method was through international appearances. That’s more difficult when you’re dealing with a larger group of potential players.

“The other area where you can score points now is if you’re playing for a good club in a good league and you’re being successful. It’s based more around your playing history and the quality of games you’re involved in.”

Will this also change how clubs land managers?

It will indeed. Players are not the only ones to be impacted, with head coaches and their staff also required to meet certain criteria set out by the game’s governing bodies.

Any manager appointed from overseas will need a GBE, which will only be granted if the individual holds a UEFA professional licence and has managed in a “Top League” for either three years or two years consecutively. That encompasses 33 different leagues, from Italy’s Serie A to the Slovenian PrvaLiga.

That will not be an obstacle for most managers but the new rules would have blocked Huddersfield’s appointment of David Wagner in 2015. The German had only ever coached Borussia Dortmund II before moving to England and steering Huddersfield to the Premier League. Daniel Farke, the current Norwich boss, would also have been denied his opportunity when appointed in 2017.

First-time managers from Europe and high-profile names will also find opportunities limited. Former Spain midfielder Xavi, currently coaching in Qatar with Al-Sadd, would not meet the criteria.

Clubs are able to appeal to an independent panel at a cost of £5,000. They would have to show their appointment would “contribute significantly to the development of the game at the top level in England” and be a manager of the “highest calibre”.

Premier League and EFL clubs are able to provide the sponsorship required for an overseas coach to work in the UK but National League clubs will no longer be permitted to freely appoint a European coach.

There is a different criteria for assistant managers and other members of a backroom coaching team, such as a first-team coach or goalkeeping coach, who must be deemed suitable by frameworks outlined for a “performance manager”. Those rules are less stringent but would still need to be met.

 

Someone should have proof read it. The United Kingdom's membership of the European Union ended almost a year ago.

 

What are u on about? The development queue for young English players just got shorter which is good

but brexit is terrible for the country especially under the tories

football might get better for English players but life is about to get a lot worse for the general public

 

I don't think I can express what I meant in terms that are any simpler than the ones I used.

Yes, yes. Any minute now.

 

Combine a no deal brexit (awful deals worse than when we were in the eu which were free mostly and a massive potential conflict with the Irish border) plus large companies that manufacture goods relocating to a free trade zone in the European Union combined with car parks on the motorway due to customs checks combined with a worldwide pandemic = shit

but it means young English players get more of a chance so in a footballing sense, it might be better for the national team

 

Whatever thoughts on Brexit, it seems to be good for young English talent.

Not only will there be less young plays to compete with for them in the academy, there will be less second rate foreign players coming over to fill gaps in teams at the bottom of the Premier League, and especially in the EFL.

The GBE system, could almost put a stop to nearly all foreign players being recruited into the EFL depending on how harsh the restrictions end up being, as they sound currently it will do, but will no doubt be relaxed at some point.

Even a team like Norwich, who seemingly used a lot of young English talent when they went up in 18/19 were mostly foreign players - and bar Tim Krul I doubt any would have hit eligibility criteria and they started 7 or 8 most weeks.

The EFL *should* become almost a competition totally filled with British players.

Also - I assume Irish players are still able to come over before 18? If so it gives them a massive boost as the market just got waaaaaaay smaller

 

Every club that does this does it for financial reasons and nothing else.

 

The FA should make having an academy a prerequisite for entry into the FA cup.

 

Yes. The Common Travel Area is completely independent of the EU and both governments have committed to maintaining it for the foreseeable future.

 

And they're gonna lose so much talent for nothing now, just watch. Brentford did it too, there are tons of kids they released when they shut theirs down playing at super high levels already and their fans will just tell you they'd have been taken for nothing anyway, but they made that decision for everyone. Mbete-Tabu, Simons, Laing, Babic, Ollie O'Neill, Nile John, Gyamfi, Lo-Tutala, Lewis Richards, Lusala, Everitt, Eddie Carrington, Matt Dibley-Dias, Stefan Parkes, a few others I can't remember offhand all at big Cat 1 clubs and most of them are youth internationals.

 

Just a cray move, especially after Bellingham signed his deal to get them the fee - had he walked out for next to nothing you could imagine it being done as a knee jerk reaction.

With Brexit happening, and signing of players from outside the UK being tougher it is a baffling time to make the decision.

Short term savings, for a major long term mistake - it took them years to build it back up after Barry Fry shut it previously. Stupid, stupid, stupid.

 

From what level up? Clearly not all of the 100s of teams that enter can have an academy.

 

Well, surely the fully professional level at least.

 

Surely be easiest to say every EPL and EFL team should have one?

 

There's approx 100 professional teams in the football pyramid. There will be quite a few in League 2 and National League who'd find that stipulation difficult.

 

Could just make it the top two tiers. That would be 44 academies, with any team intending to get in there having to carry an academy + the teams who just want to have an academy no matter what the rules are.

More than enough and stops the majority of sides who have done it for questionable reasons instantly.

 

📝 Mike Dodds has been appointed as the Club's new Head of Academy.

— Birmingham City FC (@BCFC) December 8, 2020

So their academy isn’t folding after all unless I’ve misunderstood this.

Also with regard to these B, C teams, who do they play against week in week out as I take it their is no league format for them?

 

They'd be clubs who play in the football pyramid, presumably. I don't think there has ever been a rule against it, it's just that you'd have to start from the bottom.

 

They've clearly shat themselves at the reaction and backtracked as much as possible.

 

Ok, I actually hadn’t realised it’s based on the actual B team model which you see in foreign Countries as thought it wasn’t allowed at professional level. I just thought they would play a load of friendlies against other Clubs senior teams or something, didn’t realise they are in the pyramid somewhere. How low down do they have to start?

 

Maybe it's something different to the B teams that have been talked about in the past, but I believe they'd have to start from the bottom of the pyramid.