New Rules for English Clubs: What About Players?

The English Football Association has decided to allow clubs to sign a limited number of players who do not meet work permit requirements after the Home Office approved new criteria for issuing visas for international players. The new criteria, which came into effect at the beginning of the summer transfer window today, allow Premier League and EFL Championship clubs to sign four players from this category. This number decreases to only two for clubs in the third and fourth divisions. The association stated that the new rules will make it easier for clubs to contract talents from other countries that do not meet the requirements of the current system, which will remain in force for the majority of foreign players coming to England. The chief executive of the association, Mark Bullingham, stated: "As the governing body of English football, we oversee the entire game and wanted to create a new model that meets the different goals of all stakeholders in football."