To protect children from exploitation, FIFA's transfer rules generally ban international transfers of players under 18. The rule is especially important for Africa, where many young players are approached by foreign clubs and agents.
The general rule
Article 19 of FIFA's Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players states that international transfers are only permitted if the player is over the age of 18. The same applies to a minor's first registration in a country that is not his or her nationality.
The exceptions
- Family moves: the player's parents move to the new country for reasons not linked to football.
- Within the EU/EEA: players aged 16 to 18 may move between countries in the European Union and European Economic Area, if the club provides football training, academic or vocational education and suitable accommodation.
- Cross-border: the player lives no more than 50 km from a national border and the club is within 50 km of that border on the other side.
- Refugees and humanitarian cases: unaccompanied minors who have fled their country, and some students on exchange programmes, can be registered under specific conditions.
How it is enforced
Applications for international transfers and first registrations of minors are reviewed by a FIFA sub-committee before a club can register the player. Clubs that break the rules can be fined and banned from registering new players.
What it means for African players
For most young African players, the earliest legitimate move abroad is at 18. Before then, the best path is a good academy or club at home and youth national team football. Families should be suspicious of anyone offering to take a child abroad for trials; read how to spot fake agents.
Related rules
When players do move, the clubs that trained them between the ages of 12 and 23 may receive money; see solidarity payments and training compensation.