Premier League clubs banned from signing foreign U18s

Premier League and Football League teams will be unable to sign foreign players under the age of 18 after new rules were approved by the Football Association today.

The regulations will also limit the number of under-21 signings to three per window, with a maximum of six per season, with the FA believing this will help boost the production of homegrown talent.

The UK Home Office’s new points-based system means Premier League clubs can no longer sign players freely from European counterparts, with players requiring a work permit from January 1st, although these will likely be formalities for such a high-pay and high-performance job.

But the decision to end free movement from the EU by the UK also means an end to signing under-18s from any nation under Fifa laws, with the new rules coming into place as soon as 2021 begins.

A joint statement from the FA, Premier League and EFL read: “Post Brexit, clubs will not be able to sign players freely from the EU. Players from EU countries who want to play in the Premier League or EFL will be required to gain a GBE, like all other overseas players without the right to work in the UK.

“In the Premier League, the number of overseas U21 players a club can sign will be limited to three in the January transfer window and six per season moving forwards. This enables the recruitment of the best players from around the world to train and play together with homegrown talent.

“Under Fifa’s rules, the UK’s exit from the EU will also mean that clubs will not be able to sign players from overseas until they are 18.”