Livida Sport: A Global Guide to Football Transfers - Second Edition - Manual / Resource - Page 11
England
EFL Championship
16/200
What are the foreign player rules?
Following Brexit, English football's immigration rules were revamped, with the Football
Association (The FA) introducing changes that have affected all four professional
leagues. While EU players no longer enjoy the unrestricted access to English football
they once had, the updated rules open up fresh opportunities, especially for talent from
Latin America (due to their continental competitions being highly rewarded on the points
system described below).
Aside from non-football immigration routes, international players typically have two
pathways to qualify for the top two tiers of English football:
By getting a visa through meeting the requirements of the points-based system for a
8Governing Body Endorsement9 (GBE); or
By qualifying for one of the 8Elite Significant Contribution9 (ESC) slots.
Governing Body Endorsements (GBE)
All players from outside the United Kingdom, including EU citizens post-Brexit, must
obtain a GBE to work as a professional footballer in England. The UK Home Office's
points-based system allows clubs to evaluate if a target player can apply for a GBE
through The FA. If a player doesn't meet the required 15 points, the club can request a
review by The FA Exceptions Panel to consider the player's experience and value for
potential GBE approval under exceptional circumstances.
Please email us for a comprehensive note on the points-based system GBE or ESC regime transfer.guide@lividasport.com.
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