In application of Brexit, the terms of which have just been sealed by an agreement, English football which will play its traditional Boxing Day this weekend has decided not to close the door to foreigners, but to filter more at the entrance. The Federation (FA) and the Premier League (the English championship) have agreed on a double principle: to continue to attract the greatest talents from around the world while promoting the emergence of natives. Consequence: a number of candidates, particularly French, second-level players or young people that English clubs were fond of, will now be rejected.
This business of turning in on oneself is based on three essential measures, activated from January 1 and the opening of the transfer window: English clubs will no longer be authorized to hire foreigners under the age of 18; limitation to three purchases of players between 18 and 21 years old by transfer window; any non-Briton will need to obtain a work permit (GBE). To be eligible for the said permit, each candidate will have to justify the total required points, which are counted according to learned scales – including the number of selections in the national team and / or the playing time in the club of origin on the last two. seasons.
“The English were breaking up so far”
The internationals and top French players, such as Houssem Aouar or Florian Thauvin, would pass hands down, as before. On the other hand, for simple club players, it will not be easy to meet the conditions.
“France will no longer be able to sell so-called players to England with potential, underlines John Williams, the Franco-English sports director of Amiens. Today, typically, N’Golo Kanté (Editor’s note: transferred from Caen to Leicester in 2015 and now to Chelsea), non-international and player of Caen in 2015, would not have enough points to go to England. This is valid for Riyad Mahrez (NDLR : Manchester City), transferred from Le Havre to Leicester in 2014, when he did not start in Ligue 2… ”
“The English were doing broken so far, explains Me Thierry Granturco, lawyer. They were quantitative by telling themselves that there would be quality in it. Now they are going to target more. “
In the 18-21 age group, France, a large producer of talent, sees its outlets restricted to exports. “One young person per French club was enough…” specifies Me Granturco. Thus, Stéphane defenders William Saliba, 19, bought by Arsenal against 29 million euros in 2019, then Wesley Fofana, 20, sold to Leicester for 35 million euros in the offseason, have in turn improved the record for the biggest transfer from ASSE …
“We will have to find other outlets …”
Me Granturco also cites the example of his former Le Havre client Harold Moukoudi, 23, central defender courted by England before opting for Saint-Etienne in 2019: “If Le Havre had made the transfer to the Premier League, he would have received a sum equivalent to 3 or 4 times its annual budget. Moukoudi would not have played in Manchester City, which intended to lend him to Aston Villa in the Championship (D2). Today, such a transfer is no longer possible. With the new rules, they will target boys who are qualified to play. For their part, clubs like Le Havre will no longer have the opportunity to make such sales… ”
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This is wrong, at a time when French clubs, shaken by the Covid and the case of TV rights not paid by Mediapro, are more than ever inclined to get rid of players. However, a notice of great calm is announced on the upcoming transfer window, especially concerning England. “In France, everyone wants to sell, observes Archad Burahee (BestWay Soccer), French agent practicing in London. If we cannot sell in England, we will have to find other outlets, in Germany, in Italy, etc. But it is still necessary that these championships are interested in the players offered and the asking price. And that the player wants to go… ”Clearly, Brexit does not do the business of French football.
