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Sources: FA rule change opens pathway for Leeds United transfer spree
The FA’s new ESC Endorsement Path may allow clubs such as Leeds United to make more non-UK signings next year, Football Insider has been told.
The Home Office approved new changes to the Governing Body Endorsement system for international player visas in June.
The changes will help English clubs to recruit “exceptional international talent” which currently falls outside the GBE criteria.
However, the number of non-UK signings allocated to each team is proportional to the number of minutes played by English players in the club.
Leeds have so far fielded 12 English players in their opening fixtures of the 2023/24 season, including new signings Karl Darlow and Sam Byram.
Daniel Farke’s faith in homegrown players means Leeds are likely to be granted more non-UK signings from 2024/25 onwards compared to some of their rivals in the EFL and Premier League.
Owen Chan and Kelvin Tanner at law firm Charles Russell Speechlys provided Football Insider with further depth on the ESC Endorsement Path.
“The new ESC endorsement path allows clubs competing in the Premier League or Championship to sign up to four non-UK players who would otherwise not qualify for a Governing Body Endorsement via the existing routes for the 2023/2024 season.
“Clubs must first receive a GBE before they can sponsor a player’s UK visa to allow them to play football or undertake any employment duties for the club.
“For the 2024/2025 season onwards, the system incentivises clubs to give more game time to homegrown talent by allocating the number of ESC players a club can sign based on the number of playing minutes given to English Qualified Players throughout the season before.
“Clubs must demonstrate to the FA’s satisfaction that the transferee is an elite player who will make a significant contribution to the sport.
“Relevant guidance will be issued by the FA from time to time, but as a minimum, the FA would expect the player to have played internationally for their country or played in at least five matches domestically in a qualifying league.”
In other news, Kieran Maguire: Leeds United fans ‘critical’ to promotion in £20m claim