Transfer (association football)#2013: Transfer of Neymar from Santos to Barcelona

{{see also|Retain and transfer system|Bosman ruling|Transfer window|Loan (sports)|Third-party ownership in association football|Webster ruling}}

The concept of a football transfer first came into existence in England after The Football Association (FA) introduced player registration sometime after 1885. Before that, a player could agree to play one or more matches for any football club. After the FA recognised professionalism in 1885,{{cite news |url=https://www.fifa.com/classicfootball/history/the-game/global-growth.html |title=History of Football - The Global Growth |access-date=20 April 2014 |publisher=FIFA Official Website |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140821083313/http://www.fifa.com/classicfootball/history/the-game/global-growth.html |archive-date=21 August 2014 }} it sought to control professional players by introducing a player registration system. Players had to register with a club each season, even if he remained with the same club as in the season before. A player was not allowed to play until he was registered for that season. Once a player was registered with a club he was not allowed to be registered with or play for another club during the same season without the permission of the FA and the club that held his registration. However players were free to join another club before the start of each season, even if their former club wished to retain them.

Sometime after the Football League was formed in 1888 the Football League decided to introduce the retain-and-transfer system, which restricted clubs from luring players from other clubs, thereby preventing clubs from losing their players and preventing the league from being dominated by a handful of rich clubs. From the start of the 1893–94 season onwards, once a player was registered with a Football League club, he could not be registered with any other club, even in subsequent seasons, without the permission of the club he was registered with. It applied even if the player's annual contract with the club holding their registration was not renewed after it expired. The club was not obliged to play them and, without a contract, the player was not entitled to receive a salary. Nevertheless, if the club refused to release his registration, the player could not play for any other Football League club. Football League clubs soon began to demand and earn a transfer fee from any other Football League club as consideration for agreeing to release or transfer the player's registration.

In 1912 Charles Sutcliffe helped establish the legality of this retain-and-transfer system when he successfully represented his club Aston Villa during the Kingaby case.Matthew Taylor, 'Sutcliffe, Charles Edward (1864–1939)', Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 The former Villa player Herbert Kingaby had brought legal proceedings against the club for preventing him from playing. However an erroneous strategy pursued by Kingaby's counsel resulted in the suit being dismissed.David McArdle, LLB PhD, [http://webjcli.ncl.ac.uk/2000/issue2/mcardle2.html#Heading7 The Football League's player registration scheme and the Kingaby case] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100301021524/http://webjcli.ncl.ac.uk/2000/issue2/mcardle2.html |date=2010-03-01 }}, accessed 16 December 2012 In England, the "retain" aspect of the system was removed after a decision by the High Court in 1963 in Eastham v Newcastle United that it was unreasonable.

File:Edgar Davids.jpg was the first high-profile player to move on a free transfer via the Bosman ruling.]]

The transfer system remained unchanged until the Bosman ruling. The ruling is named after Jean-Marc Bosman, a former Belgian footballer who in 1990 was registered with Belgian Cup winners RFC Liège.{{cite news |last=Burton |first=Mark |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/who-is-jeanmarc-bosman-1602219.html |title=Who is Jean-Marc Bosman? |date=21 September 1995 |access-date=12 January 2014 |newspaper=The Independent |location=London |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140125130312/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/who-is-jeanmarc-bosman-1602219.html |archive-date=25 January 2014 }} His contract had expired and he was looking to move to French team Dunkerque, but Dunkerque refused to pay the transfer fee of £500,000 that Liège were asking for. Bosman was left in limbo and his wages were cut by 75% due to him not playing. After a lengthy legal battle, Bosman won his case on 15 December 1995 when the European Court of Justice ruled players should legally be free to move when their contract expired.{{cite news |last=Fordyce |first=Tom |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/4528732.stm |title=10 years since Bosman |publisher=BBC |date=14 December 2005 |access-date=12 January 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060309161200/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/4528732.stm |archive-date=9 March 2006 }}

The first high-profile "Bosman transfer" was Edgar Davids,{{cite news |last=Carter |first=Jon |url=http://espnfc.com/columns/story/_/id/996013/rewind-to-1995:-the-bosman-effect |title=The Bosman effect |publisher=ESPN |date=15 December 2011 |access-date=13 January 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140118123906/http://espnfc.com/columns/story/_/id/996013/rewind-to-1995:-the-bosman-effect |archive-date=18 January 2014 }} who departed Ajax for Milan, but lasted just one year in Milan before moving to league rivals Juventus for a fee of over £5 million. The same summer, Luis Enrique made the controversial decision to let his Real Madrid contract run down by signing for league rivals Barcelona.{{cite news |last1=Steinberg |first1=Jacob |last2=Murray |first2=Scott |last3=Harris |first3=Daniel |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2013/jun/21/joy-of-six-free-transfers |title=The Joy of Six: free transfers |newspaper=The Guardian |date=21 June 2013 |access-date=13 January 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140114012857/http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2013/jun/21/joy-of-six-free-transfers |archive-date=14 January 2014 }} In 1999, Steve McManaman departed his boyhood club Liverpool for Real Madrid,{{cite news |last=Nixon |first=Alan |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-macca-in-move-to-real-madrid-1077275.html |title=Macca in move to Real Madrid |newspaper=The Independent |date=30 January 1999 |access-date=13 January 2014 |location=London |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140125211435/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-macca-in-move-to-real-madrid-1077275.html |archive-date=25 January 2014 }} while Sol Campbell was arguably the most controversial Bosman transfer of all-time when in 2001, he moved from Tottenham Hotspur to local fierce rivals Arsenal.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2001/jul/03/newsstory.sport3 |title=Sol Campbell joins Arsenal |newspaper=The Guardian |date=3 July 2001 |access-date=13 January 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140114012908/http://www.theguardian.com/football/2001/jul/03/newsstory.sport3 |archive-date=14 January 2014 }}{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/a/arsenal/1420259.stm |title=Arsenal clinch Campbell signing |publisher=BBC |date=3 July 2001 |access-date=13 January 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021022205547/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/a/arsenal/1420259.stm |archive-date=22 October 2002 }} In 2011, playmaker Andrea Pirlo notably completed his contract with A.C. Milan before moving to Juventus. In 2014, it was announced Borussia Dortmund striker Robert Lewandowski would leave the club for league rivals Bayern Munich in the upcoming summer when his contract expired.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/jan/04/robert-lewandowski-bayern-munich |title=Robert Lewandowski to join Bayern Munich as free agent in July |newspaper=The Guardian |date=4 January 2014 |access-date=13 January 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140114011446/http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/jan/04/robert-lewandowski-bayern-munich |archive-date=14 January 2014 }}{{cite news |url=http://www.espn.co.uk/football/sport/story/271073.html |title=Lewandowski signs five-year Bayern deal |publisher=ESPN |date=4 January 2014 |access-date=13 January 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140114082616/http://www.espn.co.uk/football/sport/story/271073.html |archive-date=14 January 2014 }}{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/25605262 |title=Robert Lewandowski to join Bayern Munich from Borussia Dortmund |date=4 January 2014 |access-date=13 January 2014 |publisher=BBC |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140108072416/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/25605262 |archive-date=8 January 2014 }}

{{quote box|width=30%|align=left|quote="I think I did something very good. I gave people rights. Now I think there may be a new generation of players who don't realise how lucky they are to be able to leave a club and join another, even if they are the fifth or sixth foreigner there. I am proud of the ruling because people will still be talking about it in years to come, maybe even after I am gone in 20 or 30 years or whatever. Maybe they will think they should at least thank me, nothing more." |source=— Jean-Marc Bosman in 2015.{{cite news |last=Riach |first=James |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/dec/12/jean-marc-bosman-players-rights-20-years |title=Jean-Marc Bosman: 'I think I did something good – I gave players rights' |date=12 December 2015 |access-date=13 December 2015 |work=The Guardian |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151213010529/http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/dec/12/jean-marc-bosman-players-rights-20-years |archive-date=13 December 2015 }}}}

Another impact the case had was the rules regarding foreign players. Before the ruling was made, clubs throughout Europe were limited to the number of foreign players they could employ, and could only play a maximum of three in European competition.{{cite news |last=Hodgson |first=Guy |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/relief-at-end-of-foreigner-rule-1526032.html |title=Relief at end of 'foreigner' rule |date=16 December 1995 |access-date=19 July 2014 |newspaper=The Independent |location=London |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140728065339/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/relief-at-end-of-foreigner-rule-1526032.html |archive-date=28 July 2014 }} FIFA noted it was "disappointed" in the ruling,{{cite news |url=https://www.fifa.com/aboutfifa/organisation/news/newsid=70110/index.html |title=FIFA reaction to Bosman case decision |publisher=FIFA Official Website |date=15 December 1995 |access-date=12 January 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140112084217/http://www.fifa.com/aboutfifa/organisation/news/newsid=70110/index.html |archive-date=12 January 2014 }} while Gordon Taylor thought the decision would have a major impact and would "lead to a flood of foreign players... to the detriment of our game". The ruling ensured a team could now choose to play a team of 11 foreign players if it wanted, as was the case when Chelsea became the first team to do so in December 1999.{{cite news |last=Leach |first=Conrad |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/football-league/slick-flo-the-pick-of-chelseas-11man-foreign-legion-742884.html |title=Slick Flo the pick of Chelsea's 11-man foreign legion |newspaper=The Independent |date=27 December 1999 |access-date=13 January 2014 |location=London |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140125211431/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/football-league/slick-flo-the-pick-of-chelseas-11man-foreign-legion-742884.html |archive-date=25 January 2014 }} By 2007, the percentage of foreign players in England and Germany had reached 57%, compared with 39% in Spain and France and 30% in Italy.{{cite news |last=Slater |first=Matt |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/6975955.stm |title=English football under threat |publisher=BBC |date=3 September 2007 |access-date=13 January 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071222024307/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/6975955.stm |archive-date=22 December 2007 }} The last team to field an all-English starting line-up was Aston Villa in February 1999, nine months before the first all-foreign squad fielded by a club team in a football match.{{cite news |last=Taylor |first=Louise |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2011/feb/25/premier-league-foreign-players-aston-villa |title=Aston Villa's all-English team a distant Premier League memory |newspaper=The Guardian |date=25 February 2011 |access-date=13 January 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140114013849/http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2011/feb/25/premier-league-foreign-players-aston-villa |archive-date=14 January 2014 }}

Although there were leagues already implementing the practice, UEFA decided to enforce a continental transfer window in time for the 2002–03 season.{{cite news |last=Warshaw |first=Andrew |url=http://www.uefa.com/news/newsid=33554.html |title=Clear vision with transfer windows |publisher=UEFA Official Website |date=13 September 2002 |access-date=13 January 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140114102308/http://www.uefa.com/news/newsid=33554.html |archive-date=14 January 2014 }} UEFA chief executive Gerhard Aigner said that part of the reason behind making the transfer window compulsory was to ensure a partial stabilisation of club squads during the season{{Cite web|date=1999-09-22|title=Uefa backs transfer windows|url=http://www.theguardian.com/football/1999/sep/22/newsstory.sport7|access-date=2021-08-28|website=The Guardian|language=en}} and to "stop the confusion that has followed Bosman",{{cite news |last1=Ashdown |first1=John |last2=Smyth |first2=Rob |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2012/feb/01/the-knowledge-premier-league-transfer-window |title=Why does the Premier League have a January transfer window? |newspaper=The Guardian |date=1 February 2002 |access-date=13 January 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140114100927/http://www.theguardian.com/football/2012/feb/01/the-knowledge-premier-league-transfer-window |archive-date=14 January 2014 }} and, with regards to it possibly damaging smaller clubs financially, he said it did not make sense that clubs would "depend on the transfer of a single player to survive the season".{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/1780354.stm |title=No window of opportunity |publisher=BBC |date=24 January 2002 |access-date=13 January 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030406224310/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/1780354.stm |archive-date=6 April 2003 }} From 2002 to the present day, most leagues around Europe have two windows in which players may be purchased: the end of the season to 31 August, and then for the entirety of the month of January.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/1780263.stm |title=Uefa wants transfer windows |date=24 January 2002 |access-date=13 January 2014 |publisher=BBC |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040725022028/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/1780263.stm |archive-date=25 July 2004 }} In England, the club chairmen felt they were "reluctantly being forced" to accept the proposal,{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/2001927.stm |title=Clubs 'reluctantly' back transfer window |publisher=BBC |date=22 May 2002 |access-date=13 January 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040704054755/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/2001927.stm |archive-date=4 July 2004 }} and FIFA eventually relaxed the rules regarding out-of-contract players, which enabled them to sign a contract with a new club at any time, thus not depriving football players of income outside of the season’s transfer window.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/2254467.stm |title=Fifa relaxes transfer laws |date=12 September 2002 |access-date=13 January 2014 |publisher=BBC |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040725022036/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/2254467.stm |archive-date=25 July 2004 }}

In 2003, the English Premier League scrapped a law which forbade loans between clubs in the league.{{cite news |last=Taylor |first=Daniel |authorlink= Daniel Taylor (journalist)|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2003/mar/04/newsstory.sport2 |title=Premier League set to scrap loan ban |date=4 March 2003 |access-date=28 August 2014 |newspaper=The Guardian |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140910201846/http://www.theguardian.com/football/2003/mar/04/newsstory.sport2 |archive-date=10 September 2014 }} Professional Footballers' Association chairman Gordon Taylor was critical of the change, fearing the new system would "erode the sporting and competitive element of the game".{{cite news |last=Warshaw |first=Andrew |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/2410147/Taylor-attacks-loan-deal-strategy.html |title=Taylor attacks loan-deal strategy |date=24 August 2003 |access-date=28 August 2014 |newspaper=The Telegraph |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150919130325/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/2410147/Taylor-attacks-loan-deal-strategy.html |archive-date=19 September 2015 }} In February 2004, Newcastle United allowed striker Lomana LuaLua to move on loan to fellow Premier League club Portsmouth for three months for a £100,000 fee.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/p/portsmouth/3452281.stm |title=Pompey land LuaLua |date=2 February 2004 |access-date=28 August 2014 |publisher=BBC |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040519082907/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/p/portsmouth/3452281.stm |archive-date=19 May 2004 }} On 29 February, LuaLua scored an 89th-minute equaliser against Newcastle in a 1–1 draw,{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/3507627.stm |title=Portsmouth 1-1 Newcastle |date=29 February 2004 |access-date=28 August 2014 |publisher=BBC |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040619151030/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/3507627.stm |archive-date=19 June 2004 }} later apologizing to Newcastle supporters.{{cite news |last=Hayward |first=Paul |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/2374007/Newcastle-dealt-a-cruel-blow-by-LuaLua.html |title=Newcastle dealt a cruel blow by LuaLua |date=1 March 2004 |access-date=28 August 2014 |newspaper=The Telegraph |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140821122647/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/2374007/Newcastle-dealt-a-cruel-blow-by-LuaLua.html |archive-date=21 August 2014 }} The law was again changed to block players from playing against their parent club, a move which Graham Taylor was critical of.{{cite news |last=Hayward |first=Paul |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2007/may/09/sport.comment4 |title=Are changes needed to make the loan system fairer? |date=9 May 2007 |access-date=28 August 2014 |newspaper=The Guardian |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141003123342/http://www.theguardian.com/football/2007/may/09/sport.comment4 |archive-date=3 October 2014 }} Long-time Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger has been critical of the rule on numerous occasions. In 2012, he asked for the rules to be changed so that only players aged 21 and under can be loaned;{{cite news |url=http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11670/7456398/wenger-calls-for-over-21s-ban |title=Wenger calls for over 21s ban |date=26 January 2012 |access-date=28 August 2014 |publisher=Sky Sports |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141211040651/http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11670/7456398/wenger-calls-for-over-21s-ban |archive-date=11 December 2014 }} in 2013, he said the rule lacks "integrity";{{cite news |url=http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11670/9061215/premier-league-arsenal-manager-arsene-wenger-calls-for-review-of-loan-system |title=Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger calls for review of loan system |date=6 December 2013 |access-date=28 August 2014 |publisher=Sky Sports |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141211034314/http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11670/9061215/premier-league-arsenal-manager-arsene-wenger-calls-for-review-of-loan-system |archive-date=11 December 2014 }} and in 2014, said the system was "not defendable" and protects the clubs who loan players out.{{cite news |last=Delaney |first=Miguel |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/arsenal-manager-arsne-wenger-slams-player-loan-system-9241211.html |title=Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger slams player loan system |date=6 April 2014 |access-date=28 August 2014 |newspaper=The Independent |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141219060554/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/arsenal-manager-arsne-wenger-slams-player-loan-system-9241211.html |archive-date=19 December 2014 }} In 2013, Football League clubs voted unanimously to close a "ludicrous" loophole which had allowed Watford to loan 14 players from abroad, including ten from Udinese.{{cite news |last=Riach |first=James |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/jun/07/watford-foreign-loans-loophole |title=Door closes on Watford's 'ludicrous' foreign loans loophole |date=7 June 2013 |access-date=28 August 2014 |newspaper=The Guardian |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141211031956/http://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/jun/07/watford-foreign-loans-loophole |archive-date=11 December 2014 }}{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/football-league/football-league-clubs-vote-to-close-loan-loophole-8648522.html |title=Football League clubs vote to close loan loophole |date=7 June 2014 |access-date=28 August 2014 |newspaper=The Independent |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140924091504/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/football-league/football-league-clubs-vote-to-close-loan-loophole-8648522.html |archive-date=24 September 2014 }}

On transfer deadline day in August 2006, West Ham United pulled off what was described as a "major coup" by signing Argentina World Cup stars Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano from Corinthians.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/west_ham_utd/5301068.stm |title=West Ham sign Tevez & Mascherano |date=31 August 2006 |access-date=11 August 2014 |publisher=BBC |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160112235015/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/west_ham_utd/5301068.stm |archive-date=12 January 2016 }}{{cite news |url=http://www.espnfc.com/story/377632 |title=Hammers complete Tevez, Mascherano deal |date=31 August 2006 |access-date=11 August 2014 |publisher=ESPN |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812212319/http://www.espnfc.com/story/377632 |archive-date=12 August 2014 }} West Ham's official press release stated Tevez and Mascherano had "been signed for an undisclosed fee and put pen to paper on permanent contracts", but that "all other aspects of the transfers will remain confidential and undisclosed".{{cite news |url=http://www.whufc.com/articles/20060831/hammers-sign-tevez-and-mascherano_2236884_1141616 |title=Hammers sign Tevez and Mascherano |date=31 August 2006 |access-date=11 August 2014 |publisher=West Ham United F.C. Official Website |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812204632/http://www.whufc.com/articles/20060831/hammers-sign-tevez-and-mascherano_2236884_1141616 |archive-date=12 August 2014 }} Mystery shrouded the transfer immediately with regards to who owned the rights to the players,{{cite news |last=Kelso |first=Paul |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2006/sep/01/sport.comment2 |title=Eyebrows raised at deal shrouded in mystery |date=1 September 2006 |access-date=11 August 2014 |newspaper=The Guardian |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140925164408/http://www.theguardian.com/football/2006/sep/01/sport.comment2 |archive-date=25 September 2014 }} and continued until three years later when Tevez signed for Manchester United.{{cite news |last1=Cobain |first1=Ian |last2=Kelso |first2=Paul |last3=Phillips |first3=Tom |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2006/sep/14/football.brazil |title=The boys from Argentina - via Brazil and a secretive offshore finance company |date=14 September 2006 |access-date=11 August 2014 |newspaper=The Guardian |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140715010635/http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2006/sep/14/football.brazil |archive-date=15 July 2014 }}{{cite news |last=Conn |first=David |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2009/mar/17/david-conn-west-ham-tevez-mascherano |title=The Corinthians Two, West Ham and the sharp end of Blades's litigation |date=17 March 2009 |access-date=11 August 2014 |newspaper=The Guardian |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812212821/http://www.theguardian.com/football/2009/mar/17/david-conn-west-ham-tevez-mascherano |archive-date=12 August 2014 }}{{cite news |last=Kelso |first=Paul |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/manchester-united/5326203/The-mysterious-case-of-who-owns-Carlos-Tevez.html |title=The mysterious case of who owns Carlos Tevez |date=15 May 2009 |access-date=11 August 2014 |newspaper=The Telegraph |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140905092722/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/manchester-united/5326203/The-mysterious-case-of-who-owns-Carlos-Tevez.html |archive-date=5 September 2014 }} In March 2007, West Ham were charged over the transfers, with the Premier League claiming the club had breached two regulations, U6 and U18, which state respectively, "No person may either directly or indirectly be involved in or have any power to determine or influence the management or administration of more than one club," and, "No club shall enter into a contract which enables any other party to that contract to require the ability materially to influence its policies or the performance of its teams in league matches."{{cite news |last=Ornstein |first=David |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2007/mar/03/newsstory.sport8 |title=West Ham charged over Mascherano and Tevez deals |date=3 March 2007 |access-date=11 August 2014 |newspaper=The Guardian |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812214558/http://www.theguardian.com/football/2007/mar/03/newsstory.sport8 |archive-date=12 August 2014 }} West Ham escaped a points deduction,{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/west_ham_utd/6464163.stm |title=West Ham to avoid big points loss |date=30 March 2007 |access-date=11 August 2014 |publisher=BBC |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070918140226/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/west_ham_utd/6464163.stm |archive-date=18 September 2007 }} but were given a record fine of £5.5 million by the Premier League.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/west_ham_utd/6594613.stm |title=West Ham handed record £5.5m fine |date=27 April 2007 |access-date=11 August 2014 |publisher=BBC |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070505082133/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/west_ham_utd/6594613.stm |archive-date=5 May 2007 }}{{cite news |last=Bond |first=David |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/2311986/West-Ham-given-record-5.5m-fine.html |title=West Ham given record £5.5m fine |date=28 April 2007 |access-date=11 August 2014 |newspaper=The Telegraph |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140814012141/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/2311986/West-Ham-given-record-5.5m-fine.html |archive-date=14 August 2014 }} Tevez was also cleared to carry on playing for the club,{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/west_ham_utd/6602697.stm |title=West Ham receive Tevez clearance |date=28 April 2007 |access-date=11 August 2014 |publisher=BBC |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071006213158/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/west_ham_utd/6602697.stm |archive-date=6 October 2007 }} and he scored the goal on the final matchday of the season, which kept West Ham in the Premier League.{{cite news |last=McNulty |first=Phil |authorlink= Phil McNulty |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/6652081.stm |title=Tevez delivers final twist |date=13 May 2007 |access-date=11 August 2014 |publisher=BBC |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071008014627/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/6652081.stm |archive-date=8 October 2007 }}{{cite news |last=Winter |first=Henry |authorlink= Henry Winter |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/2313195/Talent-of-Tevez-lifts-West-Ham-to-safety.html |title=Talent of Tevez lifts West Ham to safety |date=14 May 2007 |access-date=11 August 2014 |newspaper=The Telegraph |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140814014646/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/2313195/Talent-of-Tevez-lifts-West-Ham-to-safety.html |archive-date=14 August 2014 }} Sheffield United, who were relegated from the Premier League at the end of the season,{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2007/may/13/newsstory.wiganathletic |title=Blades suffer the cruellest cut |date=13 May 2007 |access-date=11 August 2014 |newspaper=The Guardian |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812203332/http://www.theguardian.com/football/2007/may/13/newsstory.wiganathletic |archive-date=12 August 2014 }} sued West Ham and eventually received a settlement of approximately £20 million.{{cite news |last=Burt |first=Jason |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/west-ham-to-pay-16320m-over-five-years-to-settle-tevez-saga-1646421.html |title=West Ham to pay £20m over five years to settle Tevez saga |date=17 March 2009 |access-date=11 August 2014 |newspaper=The Independent |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140513095547/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/west-ham-to-pay-16320m-over-five-years-to-settle-tevez-saga-1646421.html |archive-date=13 May 2014 }}{{cite news |last=Gibson |first=Owen |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2009/mar/16/sheffield-united-west-ham-carlos-tevez |title=Sheffield United and West Ham agree £20m compensation over Tevez affair |date=16 March 2009 |access-date=11 August 2014 |newspaper=The Guardian |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812211301/http://www.theguardian.com/football/2009/mar/16/sheffield-united-west-ham-carlos-tevez |archive-date=12 August 2014 }}{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/west_ham_utd/7941657.stm |title=West Ham & Blades end Tevez saga |date=16 March 2009 |access-date=11 August 2014 |publisher=BBC |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120314144534/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/west_ham_utd/7941657.stm |archive-date=14 March 2012 }}

Mascherano agreed to leave West Ham to join Liverpool on loan in January 2007, but had to wait for the Premier League to ratify the transfer due to the previous controversy,{{cite news |last=Livie |first=Alex |url=http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11669/2404048/reds-made-to-wait-on-masch |title=Reds made to wait on Masch |date=1 February 2007 |access-date=11 August 2014 |publisher=Sky Sports |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140819090453/http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11669/2404048/reds-made-to-wait-on-masch |archive-date=19 August 2014 }} and the transfer was cleared three weeks later.{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/2308062/Mascherano-cleared-for-Liverpool-move.html |title=Mascherano cleared for Liverpool move |date=20 February 2007 |access-date=11 August 2014 |newspaper=The Telegraph |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140819100434/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/2308062/Mascherano-cleared-for-Liverpool-move.html |archive-date=19 August 2014 }}{{cite news |url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/mascherano-cleared-for-reds-switch-l9jwp6tlddp |title=Mascherano cleared for Reds switch |date=20 February 2007 |access-date=11 August 2014 |newspaper=The Times}} On 29 February 2008, Liverpool signed Mascherano on a four-year contract, with a fee of £18 million paid to agent Kia Joorabchian.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/l/liverpool/7270113.stm |title=Mascherano signs Liverpool deal |date=29 February 2008 |access-date=11 August 2014 |publisher=BBC |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090508041336/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/l/liverpool/7270113.stm |archive-date=8 May 2009 }}{{cite news |last=Hunter |first=Andy |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2008/mar/01/newsstory.liverpool |title=Mascherano completes £18m transfer to Liverpool |date=29 February 2008 |access-date=11 August 2014 |newspaper=The Guardian |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140819091724/http://www.theguardian.com/football/2008/mar/01/newsstory.liverpool |archive-date=19 August 2014 }} After Joorabchian had paid £2 million to West Ham, Tevez departed for Manchester United at the end of the season on a two-year loan, with United paying £5 million per year.{{cite news |last=O'Rourke |first=Peter |url=http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11667/2638241/tevez-set-to-seal-united-move |title=Tevez set to seal United move |date=3 August 2007 |access-date=11 August 2014 |publisher=Sky Sports |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140819090356/http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11667/2638241/tevez-set-to-seal-united-move |archive-date=19 August 2014 }}{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/6935741.stm |title=Tevez completes Man Utd transfer |date=10 August 2007 |access-date=11 August 2014 |publisher=BBC |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170822101617/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/6935741.stm |archive-date=22 August 2017 }}{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2007/aug/10/newsstory.manchesterunited |title=Tevez deal is absolutely, finally, positively and emphatically over |date=10 August 2007 |access-date=11 August 2014 |newspaper=The Guardian |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140819091748/http://www.theguardian.com/football/2007/aug/10/newsstory.manchesterunited |archive-date=19 August 2014 }} After the loan ended, Tevez transferred to United's rivals Manchester City for a reported fee of £47 million.

In 2008, the Premier League banned third-party ownership in England,{{cite news |last=Wilson |first=Jeremy |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/2290672/Premiership-third-party-ownership-set-to-end.html |title=Premiership third-party ownership set to end |date=2 February 2006 |access-date=27 August 2014 |work=The Telegraph |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150919130333/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/2290672/Premiership-third-party-ownership-set-to-end.html |archive-date=19 September 2015 }} and in 2012, then-UEFA president Michel Platini released a statement in which plans to ban third-party ownership were revealed, stating that "the committee decided that the ownership of football players by third parties should be prohibited as a matter of principle",{{cite news |last=Storey |first=Daniel |url=http://www1.skysports.com/news/11095/8314729/ |title=UEFA is looking to ban the use of third-party ownership arrangements |date=6 December 2012 |access-date=27 August 2014 |work=Sky Sports |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140903042934/http://www1.skysports.com/news/11095/8314729/ |archive-date=3 September 2014 }} while then UEFA general secretary Gianni Infantino said, "Third-party ownership of players bears many threats and there are many issues linked with the integrity of the competition and it is really time to regulate that and to have a stance on that."{{cite news |last=Storey |first=Daniel |url=http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/uefa-votes-ban-third-party-player-ownership |title=UEFA votes to ban third party player ownership |date=6 December 2012 |access-date=27 August 2014 |work=FourFourTwo |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140904231328/http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/uefa-votes-ban-third-party-player-ownership |archive-date=4 September 2014 }} In 2014, Platini again called for the practice to end: "If FIFA fails to act, we will address this issue in our own competitions in Europe. The UEFA Executive Committee has already adopted a position on this issue in principle, and we will see this through," also adding it is a "danger to our sport" and "threatens the integrity of our competitions, damages football's image, poses a long-term threat to clubs' finances and even raises questions about human dignity".{{cite news |last=Collett |first=Mike |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-soccer-uefa-congress-platini-idUSBREA2Q0AX20140327 |title=Platini makes plea to FIFA to ban third party owners |date=27 March 2014 |access-date=27 August 2014 |work=Reuters |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140903100125/http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/03/27/us-soccer-uefa-congress-platini-idUSBREA2Q0AX20140327 |archive-date=3 September 2014 }} He was backed by FIFPro, the worldwide representative organisation for 65,000 professional football players, who stated the rights of the players were "under attack".{{cite news |last=Orsatti |first=Andrew |url=http://www.fifpro.org/en/news/fifpro-versus-third-party-ownership |title=FIFPro versus Third Party Ownership |date=28 March 2014 |access-date=27 August 2014 |work=FIFPro Official Website |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140904010641/http://www.fifpro.org/en/news/fifpro-versus-third-party-ownership |archive-date=4 September 2014 }} In September 2014, it was announced by then-FIFA president Sepp Blatter that third-party ownership was to be banned completely following an indeterminate transitional period.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/sep/26/sepp-blatter-fifa-ban-third-party-ownership |title=Sepp Blatter says Fifa will ban third-party ownership |date=26 September 2014 |access-date=26 September 2014 |work=The Guardian |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140926232223/http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/sep/26/sepp-blatter-fifa-ban-third-party-ownership |archive-date=26 September 2014 }}{{cite news |url=http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11095/9490019/sepp-blatter-third-party-ownership-in-football-to-be-banned |title=FIFA president Sepp Blatter says third-party ownership in football to be banned |date=26 September 2014 |access-date=26 September 2014 |work=Sky Sports |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141211034351/http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11095/9490019/sepp-blatter-third-party-ownership-in-football-to-be-banned |archive-date=11 December 2014 }}

In April 2006, Heart of Midlothian player Andy Webster was placed on the transfer list by the club after Webster's agent attempted to engineer a move to Rangers.{{cite news |url=http://www.heartsfc.co.uk/articles/20060426/webster-vr-speaks_2241384_821408 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140812045116/http://www.heartsfc.co.uk/articles/20060426/webster-vr-speaks_2241384_821408 |url-status=dead |archive-date=12 August 2014 |title=Webster: VR speaks |date=26 April 2006 |access-date=6 August 2014 |publisher=Heart of Midlothian F.C. Official Website }}{{cite news |last=Gordon |first=Phil |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/scottish/webster-latest-victim-of-the-romanov-rule-476195.html |title=Webster latest victim of the Romanov rule |date=30 April 2006 |access-date=6 August 2014 |newspaper=The Independent |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808053410/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/scottish/webster-latest-victim-of-the-romanov-rule-476195.html |archive-date=8 August 2014 }} In late June, Romanov confirmed that Webster, as well as teammate Rudi Skácel, were in talks to agree a move to Southampton.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/h/heart_of_midlothian/5130492.stm |title=Southampton bid for Hearts pair |date=29 June 2006 |access-date=6 August 2014 |publisher=BBC}} Days later, Romanov reported the pair to FIFA after the players failed to turn up at the airport to fly to Austria for pre-season training.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/h/heart_of_midlothian/5140482.stm |title=Hearts get tough with absent pair |date=3 July 2006 |access-date=6 August 2014 |publisher=BBC |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060707021018/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/h/heart_of_midlothian/5140482.stm |archive-date=7 July 2006 }} Later in the month, Webster invoked a new ruling in the FIFA laws which allowed players to free themselves from their contract and join a club in another country, providing they were in the third year of a four-year contract and gave his current club due notice, and was set to sign for Wigan Athletic.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/h/heart_of_midlothian/5190460.stm |title=Wigan waiting for Hearts' Webster |date=18 July 2006 |access-date=6 August 2014 |publisher=BBC}} In September, the transfer was finally ratified by FIFA.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/wigan_athletic/5233096.stm |title=Fifa allows Webster to join Wigan |date=4 September 2006 |access-date=6 August 2014 |publisher=BBC |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081208015231/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/wigan_athletic/5233096.stm |archive-date=8 December 2008 }} despite a late attempt by Hearts to re-sign Webster.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/h/heart_of_midlothian/5318056.stm |title=Hearts failed in late Webster bid |date=5 September 2006 |access-date=6 August 2014 |publisher=BBC}} However, after playing just five matches for Wigan, he moved to Rangers on loan in January 2007{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/r/rangers/6236095.stm |title=Webster checks in as loan Ranger |date=5 January 2007 |access-date=6 August 2014 |publisher=BBC}} and was given permission to play following a complaint by Hearts.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/r/rangers/6252783.stm |title=Webster clear to play for Rangers |date=15 January 2007 |access-date=6 August 2014 |publisher=BBC |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070126145824/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/r/rangers/6252783.stm |archive-date=26 January 2007 }} In May 2007, the tribunal to decide the compensation due to Hearts took place, with Hearts seeking up to £5 million,{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/r/rangers/6462949.stm |title=Hearts demanding £5m for Webster |date=17 March 2007 |access-date=6 August 2014 |publisher=BBC |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070320015313/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/r/rangers/6462949.stm |archive-date=20 March 2007 }}{{cite news |url=http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/latest/hearts-appeal-for-163-5m-after-fifa-webster-ruling-battle-continues-over-compensation-1-749061 |title=Hearts appeal for £5m after FIFA Webster ruling Battle continues over compensation |date=26 May 2007 |access-date=6 August 2014 |newspaper=The Scotsman |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808043308/http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/latest/hearts-appeal-for-163-5m-after-fifa-webster-ruling-battle-continues-over-compensation-1-749061 |archive-date=8 August 2014 }} but were eventually rewarded just £625,000.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/h/heart_of_midlothian/6526119.stm |title=Webster must pay Hearts £625,000 |date=4 May 2007 |access-date=6 August 2014 |publisher=BBC |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070919053311/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/h/heart_of_midlothian/6526119.stm |archive-date=19 September 2007 }}{{cite news |last=Murray |first=Ewan |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2007/may/09/newsstory.sport8 |title=Pioneer Webster's contract buy-out clears path for hordes to follow |date=6 May 2007 |access-date=6 August 2014 |newspaper=The Guardian |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140810174102/http://www.theguardian.com/football/2007/may/09/newsstory.sport8 |archive-date=10 August 2014 }} Scottish Professional Footballers' Association Fraser Wishart described the ruling as a "landmark".{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/h/heart_of_midlothian/6636757.stm |title=Webster case is the 'new Bosman' |date=6 May 2007 |access-date=6 August 2014 |publisher=BBC |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070818065117/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/h/heart_of_midlothian/6636757.stm |archive-date=18 August 2007 }} In January 2008, after an appeal, the compensation fee was reduced to £150,000 by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_prem/7218114.stm |title=Hearts get £150,000 for Webster |date=30 January 2008 |access-date=6 August 2014 |publisher=BBC |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080203200417/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_prem/7218114.stm |archive-date=3 February 2008 }} In 2007, Matuzalém invoked the same clause as Webster to break out of his contract with Shakhtar Donetsk, signing for Real Zaragoza.{{cite news |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/01c3-0ea8d3ef4358-5edfa2d838cb-1000--zaragoza-get-pavon-and-matuzalem/ |title=Zaragoza get Pavón and Matuzalem |date=18 July 2007 |access-date=6 August 2014 |publisher=UEFA Official Website |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141009034926/http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/newsid=562072.html |archive-date=9 October 2014 }} Matuzalém was found to be in breach of contract, and he and Zaragoza were ordered to pay £11 million in compensation to Shakhtar.{{cite news |url=http://www.espnfc.com/story/647851/matuzalem-and-real-zaragoza-told-to-pay-12-million-euros |title=Matuzalem and Zaragoza told to pay 12 million euros |date=19 May 2009 |access-date=6 August 2014 |publisher=ESPN |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808062612/http://www.espnfc.com/story/647851/matuzalem-and-real-zaragoza-told-to-pay-12-million-euros |archive-date=8 August 2014 }}{{cite news |last=Scott |first=Matt |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2009/may/20/webster-ruling-matuzalem-cas-compensation |title=CAS £11m award in Matuzalem case ends cheap contract buy-outs |date=20 May 2007 |access-date=6 August 2014 |newspaper=The Guardian |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140715092400/http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2009/may/20/webster-ruling-matuzalem-cas-compensation |archive-date=15 July 2014 }}

File:Neymar Barcelona presentation 1.jpg's transfer to Barcelona in 2013 became the subject of investigation.]]

In August 2010, Brazilian team Santos' 18-year-old homegrown striker Neymar was the subject of a bid in the region of £25 million from English team Chelsea,{{cite news |last=Burt |first=Jason |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/chelsea/7939695/Brazilian-striker-Neymar-close-to-signing-for-Chelsea.html |title=Brazilian striker Neymar close to signing for Chelsea |date=12 August 2010 |access-date=27 September 2014 |work=The Telegraph |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140129015119/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/chelsea/7939695/Brazilian-striker-Neymar-close-to-signing-for-Chelsea.html |archive-date=29 January 2014 }} before he signed a new five-year contract.{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/transfers/chelsea-target-neymar-signs-new-santos-deal-2057659.html |title=Chelsea target Neymar signs new Santos deal |date=20 August 2010 |access-date=27 September 2014 |work=The Independent |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140710094700/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/transfers/chelsea-target-neymar-signs-new-santos-deal-2057659.html |archive-date=10 July 2014 }}{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2010/aug/20/neymar-new-contract-santos-chelsea |title=Neymar signs new five-year contract with Santos in wake of Chelsea bid |date=20 August 2010 |access-date=27 September 2014 |work=The Guardian |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141211032433/http://www.theguardian.com/football/2010/aug/20/neymar-new-contract-santos-chelsea |archive-date=11 December 2014 }} In June 2011, Neymar was again the subject of a high-profile transfer bids: Chelsea and Real Madrid were both reported as preparing offers of €45 million,{{cite news |last=Jackson |first=Jamie |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2011/jun/14/chelsea-neymar-real-madrid |title=Chelsea could miss out on Neymar to Real Madrid over €45m price |date=14 June 2011 |access-date=27 September 2014 |work=The Guardian |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141211030040/http://www.theguardian.com/football/2011/jun/14/chelsea-neymar-real-madrid |archive-date=11 December 2014 }}{{cite news |last=Burt |first=Jason |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/chelsea/8576082/Chelsea-face-fight-with-Real-Madrid-over-Brazilian-sensation-Neymar-as-Spanish-club-prepare-bid.html |title=Chelsea face fight with Real Madrid over Brazilian sensation Neymar as Spanish club prepare bid |date=15 June 2011 |access-date=27 September 2014 |work=The Telegraph |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150819222819/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/chelsea/8576082/Chelsea-face-fight-with-Real-Madrid-over-Brazilian-sensation-Neymar-as-Spanish-club-prepare-bid.html |archive-date=19 August 2015 }} before Neymar eventually turned them down to sign another new contract with Santos.{{cite news |url=http://www.espnfc.com/story/981959/neymar-signs-new-contract-with-santos |title=Neymar commits to Santos |date=9 November 2011 |access-date=27 September 2014 |work=The Telegraph |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141031164606/http://www.espnfc.com/story/981959/neymar-signs-new-contract-with-santos |archive-date=31 October 2014 }} In December 2011, ahead of the 2011 FIFA Club World Cup Final, it was reported that Barcelona had paid Santos a €10 million instalment for the guaranteed future transfer of Neymar at any point until 2014.{{cite news |last=Castles |first=Duncan |url=http://www.thenational.ae/sport/football/barcelonas-neymar-option |title=Barcelona's Neymar option |date=18 December 2011 |access-date=27 September 2014 |work=The National |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141211034410/http://www.thenational.ae/sport/football/barcelonas-neymar-option |archive-date=11 December 2014 }} A similar figure of €14 million was reported in March by Spanish radio station Cadena SER, which also reported a total transfer fee of €58 million had already been agreed between the two clubs.{{cite news |last=Jenson |first=Pete |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/european/barcelona-win-race-to-sign-brazilian-wonderkid-neymar-say-reports-in-spain-7579281.html |title=Barcelona win race to sign Brazilian wonderkid Neymar say reports in Spain |date=20 March 2012 |access-date=27 September 2014 |work=The Independent |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141219060513/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/european/barcelona-win-race-to-sign-brazilian-wonderkid-neymar-say-reports-in-spain-7579281.html |archive-date=19 December 2014 }} Neymar's father was quoted as saying Barcelona was a "great option" for his son.{{cite news |last=Brown |first=Lucas |url=http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11095/7390561/Barca-great-option-for-Neymar |title=Barca 'great' option for Neymar |date=21 December 2011 |access-date=27 September 2014 |work=Sky Sports |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141211030453/http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11095/7390561/Barca-great-option-for-Neymar |archive-date=11 December 2014 }} A year later, his father again spoke of a possible transfer for his son, saying he would leave Santos after the 2014 FIFA World Cup, taking place in Brazil, and that Barcelona was the "best path".{{cite news |url=http://www.espnfc.com/santos-fc/story/1280694/neymar-will-move-to-europe-in-2014 |title=Neymar will move to Europe in 2014 |date=28 December 2012 |access-date=27 September 2014 |work=ESPN |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150721030707/http://www.espnfc.com/santos-fc/story/1280694/neymar-will-move-to-europe-in-2014 |archive-date=21 July 2015 }} The manager of the Brazil national team at the time, Mano Menezes, thought a move to Europe before the World Cup would be the best way for Neymar to develop as a player ahead of the tournament,{{cite news |last=Vickery |first=Tim |url=https://www.espn.com/sports/soccer/story/_/id/7708349/tim-vickery-neymar-leave-brazil-big-european-club-2014-world-cup |title=Neymar's big decision |date=19 March 2012 |access-date=27 September 2014 |work=ESPN |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120701162101/http://espn.go.com/sports/soccer/story/_/id/7708349/tim-vickery-neymar-leave-brazil-big-european-club-2014-world-cup |archive-date=1 July 2012 }} while Neymar himself said, "I'm saying once and for all that I'm not leaving Santos right now."{{cite news |last=Hughes |first=Rob |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/28/sports/soccer/28iht-soccer28.html?_r=1 |title=Road for Brazilian Star Most Likely Leads to Barcelona |date=29 March 2012 |access-date=27 September 2014 |work=The New York Times |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170215121052/http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/28/sports/soccer/28iht-soccer28.html?_r=1 |archive-date=15 February 2017 }}

On 25 May 2013, Barcelona announced they had agreed a deal with Santos to sign Neymar,{{cite news |url=http://www.espnfc.com/barcelona/story/1460307/barcelona-confirm-neymar-signing |title=Barcelona confirm Neymar signing |date=25 May 2013 |access-date=27 September 2014 |work=ESPN |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150828192256/http://www.espnfc.com/barcelona/story/1460307/barcelona-confirm-neymar-signing |archive-date=28 August 2015 }} who himself released a statement shortly afterwards, saying, "I am not going to wait until Monday. My family and friends now know my decision. On Monday I will sign with Barcelona."{{cite news |last=Lowe |first=Sid |authorlink=Sid Lowe |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/may/26/neymar-barcelona-santos-move |title=Neymar announces he will make move to Barcelona official on Monday |date=26 May 2013 |access-date=27 September 2014 |work=The Guardian |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140913122745/http://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/may/26/neymar-barcelona-santos-move |archive-date=13 September 2014 }} The transfer was confirmed on 3 June, with Neymar signing a five-year contract with Barcelona for a fee reported as £48.6 million,{{cite news |url=http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11833/8756027/la-liga-barcelona-unveil-neymar-after-brazilian-signs-five-year-contract |title=Barcelona unveil Neymar after Brazilian signs five-year contract |date=3 June 2013 |access-date=27 September 2014 |work=Sky Sports |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141211034041/http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11833/8756027/la-liga-barcelona-unveil-neymar-after-brazilian-signs-five-year-contract |archive-date=11 December 2014 }}{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/barcelona/10096774/Barcelona-unveil-Neymar-at-the-Nou-Camp-following-Brazil-strikers-move-from-Santos.html |title=Barcelona unveil Neymar at the Nou Camp following Brazil striker's move from Santos |date=3 June 2013 |access-date=27 September 2014 |work=The Telegraph |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150919130344/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/barcelona/10096774/Barcelona-unveil-Neymar-at-the-Nou-Camp-following-Brazil-strikers-move-from-Santos.html |archive-date=19 September 2015 }}{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22760770 |title=Neymar: Barcelona complete £49m signing of Brazil striker |date=3 June 2013 |access-date=27 September 2014 |work=BBC |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140917043902/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22760770 |archive-date=17 September 2014 }} a fee later confirmed by Barcelona vice-president Josep Maria Bartomeu.{{cite news |last=Segura |first=Anna |url=http://www.fcbarcelona.com/football/first-team/detail/article/bartomeu-neymar-cost-57-million-euros |title=Bartomeu: "Neymar cost 57 million euros" |date=3 June 2013 |access-date=27 September 2014 |work=FC Barcelona Official Website |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141214191823/http://www.fcbarcelona.com/football/first-team/detail/article/bartomeu-neymar-cost-57-million-euros |archive-date=14 December 2014 }} Shortly after the transfer was confirmed, DIS Esporte executive director Roberto Moreno revealed that DIS had not been paid a proportionate amount that equalled their 40% stake in the player; the investors of DIS had been paid only €9.7 million, which Moreno said meant the transfer fee Santos received was just €17 million.{{cite news |url=http://www.espn.co.uk/football/sport/story/210647.html |title=Controversy over Barca's Neymar payments |date=5 June 2013 |access-date=27 September 2014 |work=ESPN |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141211053150/http://www.espn.co.uk/football/sport/story/210647.html |archive-date=11 December 2014 }}{{cite news |last1=Duff |first1=Alex |last2=Panja |first2=Tariq |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-06-06/neymar-s-secret-transfer-deal-irks-brazilian-investment-group.html |title=Neymar's Secret Transfer Deal Irks Brazilian Investment Group |date=6 June 2013 |access-date=27 September 2014 |work=Bloomberg |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141211030730/http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-06-06/neymar-s-secret-transfer-deal-irks-brazilian-investment-group.html |archive-date=11 December 2014 }} Moreno threatened legal action to those privy to the inside knowledge of the transfer deal, saying, "I am going to wait one more week and then I will open a case in court to get access to the information."{{cite news |last=Corrigan |first=Dermot |url=http://www.espnfc.com/story/1470580/neymar-investor-in-dark-over-barcelona-deal |title=Neymar investor in dark over deal |date=7 June 2013 |access-date=27 September 2014 |work=ESPN |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150828192252/http://www.espnfc.com/story/1470580/neymar-investor-in-dark-over-barcelona-deal |archive-date=28 August 2015 }} The legal action was pursued, forcing Santos to produce a document as evidence in which they claimed, "As Santos FC well knows, the total transfer fee for all the federative and economic rights of Neymar Jr was established at €17.1M as stated in the transfer contract signed by both clubs," and they denied any wrongdoing with regards to payments to third parties, stating, "Such amounts... will be shared among Santos FC, TEISA and DIS in the amounts contractually agreed between these entities."{{cite news |last=Sanchidrián |first=David |url=http://as.com/diarioas/2013/10/11/english/1381526391_838507.html |title=DIS in legal action against Neymar, agent, Barça and Santos |date=11 October 2013 |access-date=27 September 2014 |work=Diario AS |url-status=live |archive-url=http://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/20140927014905/http://as.com/diarioas/2013/10/11/english/1381526391_838507.html |archive-date=27 September 2014 }} Barcelona also paid Santos a fee of €7.9 million for "preferential rights" for three other Santos players, which Bartomeu claimed was not part of the transfer fee.{{cite news |last=Corrigan |first=Dermot |url=http://www.espnfc.com/story/1543878/barcelona-santos-trio-not-part-of-neymar-deal |title=Santos trio not part of Neymar deal |date=4 September 2013 |access-date=27 September 2014 |work=ESPN |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140729184351/http://www.espnfc.com/story/1543878/barcelona-santos-trio-not-part-of-neymar-deal |archive-date=29 July 2014 }}

In December, Barcelona club member Jordi Cases took the case to court in an attempt to prove "misappropriation of funds", claiming the total fee Barcelona paid was actually €74 million.{{cite news |last=Corrigan |first=Dermot |url=http://www.espnfc.com/spanish-primera-divisi%C3%B3n/story/1646093/barcelona-calm-over-neymar-fee-court-case |title=Barcelona calm over Neymar fee case |date=10 December 2013 |access-date=27 September 2014 |work=ESPN |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150303052741/http://www.espnfc.com/spanish-primera-divisi%C3%B3n/story/1646093/barcelona-calm-over-neymar-fee-court-case |archive-date=3 March 2015 }}{{cite news |last=Radnedge |first=Keir |url=http://www.worldsoccer.com/columnists/keir-radnedge/neymar |title=Neymar's move to Barcelona may result in overhaul of transfer system |date=20 December 2013 |access-date=27 September 2014 |work=World Soccer |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141215043953/http://www.worldsoccer.com/columnists/keir-radnedge/neymar |archive-date=15 December 2014 }} In January, Barcelona released a statement in which they denied any wrongdoing, citing they had disclosed the €40 million payment to Neymar's parents from the beginning.{{cite news |url=http://www.fcbarcelona.com/club/detail/article/fc-barcelona-demand-legal-action-over-neymar-signing-to-be-dismissed |title=FC Barcelona demand legal action over Neymar signing be dismissed |date=13 January 2014 |access-date=27 September 2014 |work=FC Barcelona Official Website |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141214190316/http://www.fcbarcelona.com/club/detail/article/fc-barcelona-demand-legal-action-over-neymar-signing-to-be-dismissed |archive-date=14 December 2014 }}{{cite news |last=Rumsby |first=Ben |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/barcelona/10572797/Barcelona-paid-34m-signing-bonus-to-company-owned-by-Neymar-parents-in-Brazilians-transfer.html |title=Barcelona paid £34m 'signing bonus' to company owned by Neymar parents in Brazilian's transfer |date=14 January 2014 |access-date=27 September 2014 |work=The Telegraph |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140307232629/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/barcelona/10572797/Barcelona-paid-34m-signing-bonus-to-company-owned-by-Neymar-parents-in-Brazilians-transfer.html |archive-date=7 March 2014 }} On 22 January, it was announced that judge Pablo Ruz would gather information as part of a lawsuit against Barcelona president Sandro Rosell.{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/barcelona/10589916/Spanish-judge-based-in-Madrid-agrees-to-hear-lawsuit-into-cost-of-Neymars-transfer-to-Barcelona.html |title=Spanish judge based in Madrid agrees to hear lawsuit into cost of Neymar's transfer to Barcelona |date=22 January 2014 |access-date=27 September 2014 |work=The Telegraph |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140127124123/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/barcelona/10589916/Spanish-judge-based-in-Madrid-agrees-to-hear-lawsuit-into-cost-of-Neymars-transfer-to-Barcelona.html |archive-date=27 January 2014 }}{{cite news |url=http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11833/9128486/la-liga-spanish-judge-to-hear-lawsuit-against-barcelona-president-over-neymar-transfer |title=Spanish judge to hear lawsuit against Barcelona president over Neymar transfer |date=22 January 2014 |access-date=27 September 2014 |work=Sky Sports |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141211041122/http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11833/9128486/la-liga-spanish-judge-to-hear-lawsuit-against-barcelona-president-over-neymar-transfer |archive-date=11 December 2014 }} Rosell resigned from his position as president the next day,{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/jan/23/sandro-rosell-resigns-barcelona-president-neymar |title=Sandro Rosell resigns as president of Barcelona with immediate effect |date=23 January 2014 |access-date=27 September 2014 |work=The Guardian |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141211041628/http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/jan/23/sandro-rosell-resigns-barcelona-president-neymar |archive-date=11 December 2014 }}{{cite news |last=Jenson |first=Pete |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/european/barcelona-president-sandro-rosell-resigns-neymar-court-case-behind-exit-9081695.html |title=Barcelona president Sandro Rosell resigns |date=23 January 2014 |access-date=27 September 2014 |work=The Independent |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141219060727/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/european/barcelona-president-sandro-rosell-resigns-neymar-court-case-behind-exit-9081695.html |archive-date=19 December 2014 }}{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/25866962 |title=Barcelona president Sandro Rosell resigns amid Neymar transfer row |date=23 January 2014 |access-date=27 September 2014 |work=BBC |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141023002222/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/25866962 |archive-date=23 October 2014 }} and a day later, the details of the transfer were revealed by Barcelona; the transfer had in fact cost them a total of €57.1 million (£48.6M),{{cite news|title=Barcelona: Neymar deal has damaged brand of La Liga club|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/26512767|work=BBC Sport|access-date=21 January 2016|date=10 March 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160122231534/http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/26512767|archive-date=22 January 2016}}{{cite news |url=http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11833/9132103/primera-division-barcelona-reveal-details-of-deal-to-sign-brazil-star-neymar |title=Barcelona reveal details of deal to sign Brazil star Neymar |date=24 January 2014 |access-date=27 September 2014 |work=Sky Sports |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141211041519/http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11833/9132103/primera-division-barcelona-reveal-details-of-deal-to-sign-brazil-star-neymar |archive-date=11 December 2014 }}{{cite news |url=http://www.espnfc.com/spanish-primera-divisi%C3%B3n/story/1691847/barcelona-details-neymars-862m-euro-deal |title=Barcelona offers Neymar deal details |date=24 January 2014 |access-date=27 September 2014 |work=ESPN |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141024063025/http://www.espnfc.com/spanish-primera-divisi%C3%B3n/story/1691847/barcelona-details-neymars-862m-euro-deal |archive-date=24 October 2014 }} with Neymar's parents confirmed to have received a €40 million sum.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/25887952 |title=Barcelona paid Neymar's parents £34m for Brazil striker |date=24 January 2014 |access-date=27 September 2014 |work=BBC |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140127020255/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/25887952 |archive-date=27 January 2014 }}{{cite news |last=Jenson |first=Pete |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/barcelonas-neymar-saga-you-want-to-sign-our-sonthat-will-be-40-million-euros-please-9085538.html |title=Barcelona's Neymar saga: You want to sign our son? That will be 40 million euros, please |date=26 January 2014 |access-date=27 September 2014 |work=The Independent |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140829074129/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/barcelonas-neymar-saga-you-want-to-sign-our-sonthat-will-be-40-million-euros-please-9085538.html |archive-date=29 August 2014 }}

On 20 February, Barcelona and Bartomeu were charged with tax fraud,{{cite news |url=http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11833/9175433/primera-division-barcelona-charged-with-tax-fraud-over-neymar-signing |title=Barcelona charged with tax fraud over Neymar signing |date=20 February 2014 |access-date=27 September 2014 |work=Sky Sports |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141211040749/http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11833/9175433/primera-division-barcelona-charged-with-tax-fraud-over-neymar-signing |archive-date=11 December 2014 }}{{cite news |url=http://www.espn.co.uk/football/sport/story/285119.html |title=Barcelona charged with tax fraud over Neymar deal |date=20 February 2014 |access-date=27 September 2014 |work=ESPN |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141211070303/http://www.espn.co.uk/football/sport/story/285119.html |archive-date=11 December 2014 }} and paid a "voluntary" amount of €13.6 million in the same week in an attempt to save the image of the club.{{cite news |url=http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11833/9183029/barcelona-have-paid-an-extra-13million-euros-in-tax-on-neymar-deal |title=Barcelona have paid an extra 13million euros in tax on Neymar deal |date=24 February 2014 |access-date=27 September 2014 |work=Sky Sports |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141211041131/http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11833/9183029/barcelona-have-paid-an-extra-13million-euros-in-tax-on-neymar-deal |archive-date=11 December 2014 }}{{cite news |last=Minder |first=Raphael |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/25/sports/soccer/barcelona-makes-tax-payment-in-neymar-case.html |title=Barcelona Pays $19 Million Tax Related to Neymar Acquisition |date=24 February 2014 |access-date=27 September 2014 |work=The New York Times |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141216023149/http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/25/sports/soccer/barcelona-makes-tax-payment-in-neymar-case.html |archive-date=16 December 2014 }} Barcelona continued to defend their actions, releasing a statement stating that the club's "dealings with respect to this operation, and in light of all information available, was at all times in line with the relevant legal legislation",{{cite news |url=http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11833/9174415/primera-division-barcelona-reiterate-neymar-stance |title=Barcelona reiterate Neymar stance |date=20 February 2014 |access-date=27 September 2014 |work=Sky Sports |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141211040957/http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11833/9174415/primera-division-barcelona-reiterate-neymar-stance |archive-date=11 December 2014 }} while Neymar defended his father's rights to the money he received as part of the deal.{{cite news |last=Daley |first=Kieran |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/european/neymar-defends-his-fathers-right-to-33m-in-transfer-fees-as-switch-from-santos-to-barcelona-continues-to-cause-controversy-9142736.html |title=Neymar defends his father's right to £33m in transfer fees, as switch from Santos to Barcelona continues to cause controversy |date=21 February 2014 |access-date=27 September 2014 |work=The Independent |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141219060648/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/european/neymar-defends-his-fathers-right-to-33m-in-transfer-fees-as-switch-from-santos-to-barcelona-continues-to-cause-controversy-9142736.html |archive-date=19 December 2014 }} Bartomeu, who had been appointed club president following Rosell's resignation, reiterated the belief of himself and the club that the deal was fair and praised the transparency of the club to reveal all the details.{{cite news |url=http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/barcelona-president-insists-neymar-deal-was-legitimate |title=Barca president insists Neymar deal legitimate |date=25 February 2014 |access-date=27 September 2014 |work=FourFourTwo |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141211073759/http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/barcelona-president-insists-neymar-deal-was-legitimate |archive-date=11 December 2014 }} The tax charges which had been brought against Bartomeu were dropped in September.{{cite news |url=http://www.thenational.ae/sport/primera-liga/charges-against-barcelona-president-dropped-in-neymar-affair |title=Charges against Barcelona president dropped in Neymar affair |date=27 September 2014 |access-date=27 September 2014 |work=The National |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141005065201/http://www.thenational.ae/sport/primera-liga/charges-against-barcelona-president-dropped-in-neymar-affair |archive-date=5 October 2014 }}

In 2013, FIFPro launched a legal challenge against the transfer system.{{cite news |url=http://www.fifpro.org/en/news/fifpro-announces-legal-challenge-to-transfer-system |title=FIFPro announces legal challenge to transfer system |publisher=FIFPro Official Website |date=17 December 2013 |access-date=18 December 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140208002658/http://fifpro.org/en/news/fifpro-announces-legal-challenge-to-transfer-system |archive-date=8 February 2014 }}{{cite news |last=Percy |first=John |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/10523185/Fifpro-to-launch-legal-challenge-against-transfer-system-because-it-shackles-players.html |title=Fifpro to launch legal challenge against transfer system because it 'shackles' players |newspaper=The Telegraph |date=17 December 2013 |access-date=17 December 2013 |location=London |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131220085434/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/10523185/Fifpro-to-launch-legal-challenge-against-transfer-system-because-it-shackles-players.html |archive-date=20 December 2013 }}{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/dec/17/players-union-fifpro-transfer-system-european-courts |title=Players' union Fifpro to take transfer system to European courts |newspaper=The Guardian |date=17 December 2013 |access-date=17 December 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131218053807/http://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/dec/17/players-union-fifpro-transfer-system-european-courts |archive-date=18 December 2013 }}{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/25418135 |title=Football transfer system must change, says world players' union |work=BBC Sport |date=17 December 2013 |access-date=17 December 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131218100136/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/25418135 |archive-date=18 December 2013 }} FIFPro president Phillipe Piat said that "the transfer system fails 99% of players around the world, it fails football as an industry and it fails the world's most beloved game". According to FIFPro's European president Bobby Barnes, 28% of the money from a transfer fee is paid to agents, and that many players are not paid on time or at all. He claims this leads to these players being "vulnerable targets of crime syndicates, who instigate match-fixing and threaten the very existence of credible football competitions". Writing for the BBC, Matt Slater said that "professional footballers do not enjoy the same freedoms that almost every other EU worker does", and that "players look at US sport, and wonder why their career prospects are still constrained by transfer fees and compensation costs". Barnes argues that "the system encourages speculative, unsustainable, immoral and illegal investment models like third-party ownership of players".

In 2017, FIFPro agreed to drop the legal challenge after they came to an understanding with FIFA, signing a six-year agreement to improve governance of transfers and conduct a review of the current system.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/41885212 |title=Football transfers: Fifpro drop bid to end transfer system |date=6 November 2017 |access-date=28 December 2020 |publisher=BBC Sport}} Under the new terms, players who are unpaid by their parent club, mistreated or subject to abusive behaviour, are free to break their contract and leave.{{cite news |url=https://www.espn.co.uk/football/soccer-transfers/story/3261875/players-win-right-to-break-bad-contracts-under-new-fifpro-fifa-deal |title=Players win right to break bad contracts under new FIFPro/FIFA deal |date=6 November 2017 |access-date=28 December 2020 |publisher=ESPN}}{{cite news |last=Homewood |first=Brian |url=https://www.eurosport.co.uk/football/players-union-to-withdraw-challenge-to-transfer-system_sto6401560/story.shtml |title=Players' union to withdraw challenge to transfer system |date=6 November 2017 |access-date=28 December 2020 |publisher=Eurosport}}

In May 2014, the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) announced it would be ending co-ownership of players to bring Serie A in line with the other European leagues.{{cite news |last=Gladwell |first=Ben |url=http://www.espnfc.com/italian-serie-a/story/1834617/italy-to-abolish-shared-ownership-of-players-in-serie-a |title=Italy to abolish shared ownership |date=28 May 2014 |access-date=10 August 2014 |publisher=ESPN |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812224103/http://www.espnfc.com/italian-serie-a/story/1834617/italy-to-abolish-shared-ownership-of-players-in-serie-a |archive-date=12 August 2014 }}{{cite news |url=http://www.football-italia.net/49760/co-ownership-era-end |title=Co-ownership era to end |date=28 May 2014 |access-date=10 August 2014 |publisher=Football Italia |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812214437/http://www.football-italia.net/49760/co-ownership-era-end |archive-date=12 August 2014 }}

Players will commonly undergo a medical examination and/or physical fitness test before a transfer can be completed.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2009/jul/06/cristiano-ronaldo-real-madrid-medical |title=Cristiano Ronaldo passes Real Madrid medical in 'perfect condition' |newspaper=The Guardian |date=6 July 2009 |access-date=17 December 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131219032435/http://www.theguardian.com/football/2009/jul/06/cristiano-ronaldo-real-madrid-medical |archive-date=19 December 2013 }}{{cite news |url=http://espnfc.com/news/story?id=819368 |title=Zlatan Ibrahimovic passes AC Milan medical to complete move |publisher=ESPN |date=30 August 2010 |access-date=17 December 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140101072657/http://espnfc.com/news/story?id=819368 |archive-date=1 January 2014 }}{{cite news |last=Curtis |first=John |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/transfers/owen-hargreaves-undergoing-medical-at-manchester-city-2346299.html |title=Owen Hargreaves undergoing medical at Manchester City |date=30 August 2011 |access-date=17 December 2013 |newspaper=The Independent |location=London |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140113105309/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/transfers/owen-hargreaves-undergoing-medical-at-manchester-city-2346299.html |archive-date=13 January 2014 }} Occasionally, previously unknown medical problems will be detected, potentially jeopardizing the transfer or the size of the fee.Some example cases:

• {{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/stoke_city/9361494.stm |title=Hoffenheim striker Demba Ba fails Stoke City medical |publisher=BBC |date=15 January 2011 |access-date=17 December 2013 }}
• {{cite news |last1=White |first1=Duncan |last2=Smith |first2=Rory |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/football-transfers/8584547/Newcastle-United-sign-Sylvain-Marveaux-after-he-fails-Liverpool-medical.html |title=Newcastle United sign Sylvain Marveaux after he fails Liverpool medical |date=18 June 2011 |access-date=17 December 2013 |newspaper=The Telegraph |location=London |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140124233511/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/football-transfers/8584547/Newcastle-United-sign-Sylvain-Marveaux-after-he-fails-Liverpool-medical.html |archive-date=24 January 2014 }}
• {{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/16345791 |title=Newcastle United abandon striker hunt after Modibo Maiga move collapse |publisher=BBC |date=28 December 2011 |access-date=17 December 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120822091550/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/16345791 |archive-date=22 August 2012 }}
• {{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23238595 |title=Charlie Austin: Burnley striker fails Hull City medical |publisher=BBC |date=9 July 2013 |access-date=17 December 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131016195742/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23238595 |archive-date=16 October 2013 }}
• {{cite news |url=http://www.football-italia.net/38967/dossena-fails-torino-medical |title=Dossena fails Torino medical |publisher=Football Italia |date=31 August 2013 |access-date=17 December 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131220021456/http://www.football-italia.net/38967/dossena-fails-torino-medical |archive-date=20 December 2013 }}

Rarely, a player will still be signed by the interested club even if he fails a medical, as happened when Dominic Matteo failed a medical ahead of his move from Liverpool to Leeds United, who spent £4.75 million on Matteo.{{cite news |last1=Taylor |first1=Daniel |authorlink1= Daniel Taylor (journalist) |last2=Thomas |first2=Russell |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2000/aug/17/newsstory.sport7 |title=Leeds gamble on Matteo |newspaper=The Guardian |date=17 August 2000 |access-date=28 August 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141211034504/http://www.theguardian.com/football/2000/aug/17/newsstory.sport7 |archive-date=11 December 2014 }}

According to footballer Shaun Derry, his first medical was as basic as him bending over to touch his toes to check the stability in his knees,{{cite news |url=http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/12040/8906183/ |title=Shaun Derry, Kevin Davies and Guy Branston continue their blog |publisher=Sky Sports |date=25 September 2013 |access-date=17 December 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131219012011/http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/12040/8906183/ |archive-date=19 December 2013 }} but, as the knowledge of sports science has evolved,{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18887653 |title=Manchester City: The science behind the champions |publisher=BBC |date=24 July 2012 |access-date=17 December 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131107091215/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18887653 |archive-date=7 November 2013 }} the medical now involves MRI scans, and, according to former Nottingham Forest physiotherapist Gary Fleming, ECGs are also performed to check for any problems with the heart.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sportacademy/hi/sa/treatment_room/features/newsid_3083000/3083908.stm |title=The inside story |publisher=BBC |date=1 February 2013 |access-date=17 December 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120203153657/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sportacademy/hi/sa/treatment_room/features/newsid_3083000/3083908.stm |archive-date=3 February 2012 }} The person performing the medical will check all the major joints, ligaments and the player's sight. A player can fail a medical simply by being unfit, as was the case when Inter Milan tried to sign John Carew.{{cite news |last=Watson |first=Paul |url=https://www.fourfourtwo.com/us/features/inter-pass-john-carew-after-medical-shows-hes-john-carew |title=Inter pass on John Carew after medical shows he's John Carew |date=1 March 2013 |access-date=17 December 2013 |newspaper=FourFourTwo }}

One of the earliest, and most high profile, example of a transfer being cancelled due to medical issues in the UK was in November 1971 when Asa Hartford's transfer to Leeds United from West Bromwich Albion collapsed. Amidst a high level of publicity, the two clubs had agreed a fee of £177,000, a then record for Leeds United; but a medical examination found Hartford had a pin-sized hole in his heart, a slight defect he had been born with but had never impacted the progression of his career. On the advice of their medical staff, Leeds United cancelled the transfer. Despite this, Hartford went on to have a long successful playing career, including appearing for Scotland in the 1978 and 1982 World Cups, with his minor heart defect never causing an issue.{{cite web|title=Review of 1971/72 - Part 2: The Asa Hartford affair|url=http://www.mightyleeds.co.uk/seasons/197172part2.htm|website=The Mighty Mighty Whites|access-date=24 September 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170909074319/http://www.mightyleeds.co.uk/seasons/197172part2.htm|archive-date=9 September 2017}}{{cite web|title=Asa Hartford and the hole in the heart|url=http://www.worldsoccer.com/blogs/asa-hartford-356133|website=World Soccer|date=30 August 2014|access-date=31 August 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151114060209/http://www.worldsoccer.com/blogs/asa-hartford-356133|archive-date=14 November 2015}}

In the summer of 2000, Ruud van Nistelrooy looked set to complete a club record £18.5 million transfer to Manchester United from PSV.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/football/fa_carling_premiership/721505.stm |publisher=BBC |title=Record signing for Man Utd |date=21 April 2000 |access-date=9 August 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090216230807/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/football/fa_carling_premiership/721505.stm |archive-date=16 February 2009 }} Van Nistelrooy was to be unveiled at a press conference four days later, but instead this was used to announce the transfer had been postponed over concerns about his fitness; he had not played for a month due to problems with his knee.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/football/fa_carling_premiership/725828.stm |publisher=BBC |title=Man Utd record transfer postponed |date=25 April 2000 |access-date=9 August 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070102181522/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/football/fa_carling_premiership/725828.stm |archive-date=2 January 2007 }} The transfer was then cancelled after PSV would not agree to further medical tests,{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/football/fa_carling_premiership/728386.stm |publisher=BBC |title=Man Utd record transfer halted |date=27 April 2000 |access-date=9 August 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030410014153/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/football/fa_carling_premiership/728386.stm |archive-date=10 April 2003 }}{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2000/apr/27/newsstory.sport13 |newspaper=The Guardian |title=Van Nistelrooy deal collapses |date=27 April 2000 |access-date=9 August 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140811091627/http://www.theguardian.com/football/2000/apr/27/newsstory.sport13 |archive-date=11 August 2014 }} and the next day, he ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his knee during a training session, leaving him injured for a year.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/football/fa_carling_premiership/729700.stm |publisher=BBC |title=Van Nistelrooy suffers new injury |date=28 April 2000 |access-date=9 August 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030407112908/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/football/fa_carling_premiership/729700.stm |archive-date=7 April 2003 }}{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2000/apr/28/newsstory.sport8 |newspaper=The Guardian |title=Van Nistelrooy out for a year with cruciate ligament injury |date=28 April 2000 |access-date=9 August 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140811033912/http://www.theguardian.com/football/2000/apr/28/newsstory.sport8 |archive-date=11 August 2014 }} One year later, Van Nistelrooy signed a five-year contract after passing his medical.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/1292248.stm |work=BBC Sport |title=Man Utd clinch Van Nistelrooy deal |date=23 April 2001 |access-date=9 August 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071007144855/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/1292248.stm |archive-date=7 October 2007 }}

File:Hartson, John.jpg failed medical tests which led to the shelving of three potential transfers in 2000.]]

Throughout 2000, Wimbledon striker John Hartson's proposed multimillion-pound moves to Tottenham Hotspur,{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/football/667995.stm |publisher=BBC |title=Spurs pull out of Hartson deal |date=6 March 2000 |access-date=11 August 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030223143126/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/football/667995.stm |archive-date=23 February 2003 }} Rangers{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2000/aug/31/newsstory.sport5 |newspaper=The Guardian |title=Hartson deal collapses after he fails his medical |date=31 August 2000 |access-date=11 August 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812214507/http://www.theguardian.com/football/2000/aug/31/newsstory.sport5 |archive-date=12 August 2014 }} and Charlton Athletic{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/charlton_athletic/1027981.stm |publisher=BBC |title=Hartson move collapses |date=21 November 2000 |access-date=11 August 2014}} all fell through after he failed medicals at each club. In February 2001, Hartson finally transferred to Coventry City.{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/premier-league/2998499/Hartson-completes-Coventry-switch.html |newspaper=The Telegraph |title=Hartson completes Coventry switch |date=8 February 2001 |access-date=11 August 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140814033034/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/premier-league/2998499/Hartson-completes-Coventry-switch.html |archive-date=14 August 2014 }}

In July 2003, Gabriel Milito's transfer to Real Madrid from Independiente was cancelled after the medical examination by the Spanish club. Real Madrid doctors said Milito's knees would suffer severe injuries in the incoming years.{{cite news|url=https://elpais.com/deportes/2003/07/21/actualidad/1058772112_850215.html|title=El Real Madrid descarta de forma definitiva el fichaje de Milito|last1=ELPAIS.es|last2=AGENCIAS|newspaper=El País|date=21 July 2003|access-date=29 April 2018|via=elpais.com|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180429120106/https://elpais.com/deportes/2003/07/21/actualidad/1058772112_850215.html|archive-date=29 April 2018}} Milito then signed with Real Zaragoza, becoming one of the most successful defenders in La Liga. In the incoming season, Zaragoza went to win the Copa del Rey final against Real Madrid. In 2007, he joined Real Madrid's rivals, Barcelona, but at the end of his first season he suffered a knee injury that ruled him out for two years.[https://www.uefa.com/news/01cd-0e6f5d27fc21-9ff2141383fd-1000--barcelona-s-milito-faces-lengthy-lay-off/ Barcelona's Milito faces lengthy lay-off]; UEFA, 5 May 2008

In 2008, Lilian Thuram agreed to sign for Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer from Barcelona.{{cite news |last=Haond |first=Patrick |url=http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11800/3739087/thuram-set-for-psg-switch |publisher=Sky Sports |title=Thuram set for PSG switch |date=16 June 2008 |access-date=11 August 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141211041240/http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11800/3739087/thuram-set-for-psg-switch |archive-date=11 December 2014 }} During his medical, it was discovered he had a severe heart defect which had also ended his brother's life,{{cite news |url=http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11065/3747034/thuram-deal-on-hold |publisher=Sky Sports |title=Thuram deal on hold |date=17 June 2008 |access-date=11 August 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812205844/http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11065/3747034/thuram-deal-on-hold |archive-date=12 August 2014 }}{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/7477866.stm |publisher=BBC |title=Thuram move ended by heart defect |date=27 June 2008 |access-date=11 August 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120305182001/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/7477866.stm |archive-date=5 March 2012 }} forcing Thuram to retire.{{cite news |last=Dall |first=James |url=http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11065/3896542/thuram-announces-retirement |publisher=Sky Sports |title=Thuram announces retirement |date=1 August 2008 |access-date=11 August 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812205908/http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11065/3896542/thuram-announces-retirement |archive-date=12 August 2014 }}{{cite news |url=http://www.espnfc.com/story/559098 |publisher=ESPN |title=Thuram announces retirement from game |date=1 August 2008 |access-date=11 August 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812223912/http://www.espnfc.com/story/559098 |archive-date=12 August 2014 }}

In 2009, Milan were set to sign Aly Cissokho from Porto{{cite news |last=Carminati |first=Nadia |url=http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11854/5378806/cissokho-set-for-milan-switch |publisher=Sky Sports |title=Cissokho set for Milan switch |date=14 June 2009 |access-date=11 August 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812223858/http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11854/5378806/cissokho-set-for-milan-switch |archive-date=12 August 2014 }} when a medical revealed he had a dental problem which could cause deterioration in posture and potential muscle problems, prompting Milan to cancel the transfer.{{cite news |last=Carminati |first=Nadia |url=http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11854/5386096/cissokho-deal-under-threat |publisher=Sky Sports |title=Cissokho deal under threat |date=17 June 2009 |access-date=11 August 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812204301/http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11854/5386096/cissokho-deal-under-threat |archive-date=12 August 2014 }}{{cite news |url=http://www.espnfc.com/story/655797/aly-cissokhos-move-to-ac-milan-hits-the-skids |publisher=ESPN |title=Cissokho's move to AC Milan hits the skids |date=18 June 2009 |access-date=11 August 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140811185505/http://www.espnfc.com/story/655797/aly-cissokhos-move-to-ac-milan-hits-the-skids |archive-date=11 August 2014 }}{{cite news |url=http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/cissokho-move-milan-cancelled |publisher=Four Four Two |title=Cissokho move to Milan cancelled |date=18 June 2009 |access-date=11 August 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141207151902/http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/cissokho-move-milan-cancelled |archive-date=7 December 2014 }} Cissokho eventually transferred to Lyon one month later.{{cite news |url=http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11800/5441519/cissokho-seals-lyon-move |publisher=Sky Sports |title=Cissokho seals Lyon move |date=19 July 2009 |access-date=11 August 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141211041354/http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11800/5441519/cissokho-seals-lyon-move |archive-date=11 December 2014 }}

On transfer deadline in January 2013, Nottingham Forest were attempting to sign George Boyd from Peterborough United when it collapsed due to an inconclusive eye test.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21288404 |title=George Boyd: 'Inconclusive eye test' ends Forest move |publisher=BBC |date=1 February 2013 |access-date=17 December 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131016214710/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21288404 |archive-date=16 October 2013 }} Boyd later signed for Hull City in February,{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21538273 |title=Hull City sign George Boyd on loan from Peterborough |publisher=BBC |date=21 February 2013 |access-date=11 August 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131017012753/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21538273 |archive-date=17 October 2013 }} and subsequently scored against Forest in a fixture in March and mocked them with a celebration whereby he used his fingers to make fake glasses.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21724407 |title=Hull City 1-2 Nott'm Forest |publisher=BBC |date=16 March 2013 |access-date=11 August 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131017185719/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21724407 |archive-date=17 October 2013 }} A permanent transfer was arranged in May.{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/transfers/george-boyd-signs-for-hull-city-8634600.html |title=George Boyd signs for Hull City |newspaper=The Independent |date=28 May 2013 |access-date=11 August 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812205855/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/transfers/george-boyd-signs-for-hull-city-8634600.html |archive-date=12 August 2014 }}

{{further|topic=historical highest fees|World football transfer record}}

File:Zidane Zizu.jpg was the most expensive player in the world for eight years.]]

The first player to ever be transferred for a fee of over £100 was Scottish striker Willie Groves when he made the switch from West Bromwich Albion to Aston Villa in 1893,{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/football-sidelines-1140587.html |title=Groves leads the droves to Villa |newspaper=The Independent |date=24 January 1998 |access-date=12 January 2014 |location=London |url-status=dead |archive-url=http://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/20110223233247/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/football-sidelines-1140587.html |archive-date=23 February 2011 }} eight years after the legalisation of professionalism in the sport. It took just 12 years for the figure to become £1,000, when Sunderland striker Alf Common moved to Middlesbrough.{{cite news |last=Proud |first=Keith |url=http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/history/memories/teesside/3603267.The_player_with_the_Common_touch_/ |title=The player with the Common touch |newspaper=The Northern Echo |date=18 August 2008 |access-date=12 January 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120930115017/http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/history/memories/teesside/3603267.The_player_with_the_Common_touch_/ |archive-date=30 September 2012 }}{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23560273 |title=World record football transfer fees |publisher=BBC |date=1 September 2013 |access-date=12 January 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131016204400/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23560273 |archive-date=16 October 2013 }}

It was not until 1928 that the first five-figure transfer took place. David Jack of Bolton Wanderers was the subject of interest from Arsenal, and in order to negotiate the fee down, Arsenal manager Herbert Chapman got the Bolton representatives drunk.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/16066822 |title=Arsenal honour Thierry Henry, Tony Adams & Herbert Chapman |publisher=BBC |date=7 December 2011 |access-date=12 January 2014}}{{cite news |last=Flanagan |first=Chris |url=http://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/how-13-other-world-record-transfers-panned-out |title=How 13 other world record transfers panned out |publisher=Four Four Two |date=4 September 2013 |access-date=12 January 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131110171831/http://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/how-13-other-world-record-transfers-panned-out |archive-date=10 November 2013 }} Arsenal paid £10,890 after Bolton had asked for £13,000, which was double the previous record made when Sunderland signed Burnley's Bob Kelly a fee of for £6,500.

The first player from outside Great Britain to break the record was Bernabé Ferreyra, a player known as "La Fiera" for his powerful shot. His 1932 transfer from Tigre to River Plate cost £23,000, and the record would last for 17 years (the longest the record has lasted) until it was broken by Manchester United's sale of Johnny Morris to Derby County for £24,000 in March 1949. The record was broken seven further times between 1949 and 1961, when Luis Suárez was sold by Barcelona to Inter Milan for £152,000, becoming the first ever player sold for more than £100,000.

In 1968, Pietro Anastasi became the first £500,000 player when Juventus purchased him from Varese, which was followed seven years later with Giuseppe Savoldi becoming the first million pound player when he transferred from Bologna to Napoli.

In English football, the first £1 million fee occurred in 1979, when Nottingham Forest signed striker Trevor Francis from Birmingham City. Later in the same year, the English record fee was broken twice, with fees of close to £1.5 million being paid by Manchester City to Wolverhampton Wanderers for Steve Daley, and by Wolverhampton Wanderers to Aston Villa for Andy Gray. This was during a time when transfer fees were rapidly growing in English football, and the £1.5 million mark was finally reached in 1981 when Manchester United signed Bryan Robson from West Bromwich Albion. However, a change in transfer regulations around this time meant that all fees had to be paid in full within 12 months of the transfer being completed, and at least half of the fee had to be paid when the transfer was first finalised. Consequently, Robson's record fee remained intact for six years, when Liverpool signed Peter Beardsley from Newcastle United for £1.9 million. However, fees well in excess of £2 million had already been paid to English clubs by Barcelona, who had signed Mark Hughes from Manchester United and Gary Lineker from Everton in 1986. At this time, the highest transfer fees were mostly paid by Italian and Spanish clubs. Juventus paid Liverpool more than £3 million for Ian Rush.

The first £2 million fee paid by an English club came in the summer of 1988, when Tottenham Hotspur signed Paul Gascoigne from Newcastle United. Within weeks of Gascoigne's transfer, the national record was broken again when Tony Cottee moved from West Ham United to Everton for £2.2 million, and again shortly afterwards when Ian Rush returned to Liverpool from Juventus for £2.8 million.

In the space of two months in the summer of 1992, three transfers broke the record, all by Italian clubs: Jean-Pierre Papin transferred from Marseille to Milan, becoming the world's first ever £10 million player. Almost immediately, rivals Juventus topped that with the signing of Gianluca Vialli for a fee of £12 million from Sampdoria. Milan then completed the signing of Gianluigi Lentini for a fee of £13 million, which stood as the record for three years. In contrast, the English record fee that year was set at £3.6 million Alan Shearer moved to Blackburn Rovers from Southampton, a decade after the world's first £3 million transfer.

Lentini's transfer remained intact the world record fee for the next four years, although the national record was broken more than once in many countries including England. Shearer's £3.6million record fee was narrowly eclipsed 12 months later when Manchester United signed Roy Keane from Nottingham Forest for £3.75 million. In 1994, Blackburn Rovers paid a record £5 million for Chris Sutton from Norwich City, a decade after the world's first £5 million transfer. Then, in 1995, the national record fee was broken three times in six months – first when Andy Cole joined Manchester United from Newcastle United for £7 million, then with Arsenal's £7.5 million move for Dutch striker Dennis Bergkamp from Inter Milan, and finally with Liverpool's £8.5 million move for Nottingham Forest's Stan Collymore.

The 1996 transfer of Shearer from Blackburn Rovers to Newcastle United, for a fee of £15 million,{{cite news |last1=Turnbull |first1=Simon |last2=Nixon |first2=Alan |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/shearer-goes-home-for-pounds-15m-1331235.html |title=Shearer goes home for pounds 15m |date=30 July 1996 |access-date=12 January 2014 |newspaper=The Independent |location=London |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105081252/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/shearer-goes-home-for-pounds-15m-1331235.html |archive-date=5 November 2012 }} kickstarted a year-by-year succession of global record breaking transfers, as well as being the first time in decades that an English club had broken the world record for a transfer fee. It also reflected the rapid rise in English transfer fees since the creation of the Premier League in 1992. Five years earlier, a year before the new league's creation, the national record fee had stood at £2.9 million. Even Collymore's transfer 12 months before Shearer's was little more than half of the money paid for the latest record-breaking transfer.

Ronaldo moved the following year to Inter Milan from Barcelona for a fee of £17 million,{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-ronaldo-signs-up-for-inter-1257195.html |title=Ronaldo signs up for Inter |date=21 June 1997 |access-date=12 January 2014 |newspaper=The Independent |location=London |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140125130230/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-ronaldo-signs-up-for-inter-1257195.html |archive-date=25 January 2014 }} which was followed in 1998 by the shock transfer of his fellow countryman Denílson from São Paulo of Brazil to Real Betis of Spain for a fee of approximately £21 million.{{cite news |last=Longmore |first=Andrew |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/france-98-denilson-the-menacing-1163252.html |title=Denilson The Menacing |date=7 June 1998 |access-date=12 January 2014 |newspaper=The Independent |location=London |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140125130228/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/france-98-denilson-the-menacing-1163252.html |archive-date=25 January 2014 }}

In 1999 and 2000, Italian clubs returned to their record-breaking ways, with Christian Vieri transferring from Lazio to Inter for £28 million,{{cite news |last=Whyte |first=Derrick |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-inters-pounds-28m-swap-deal-for-lazios-vieri-1099122.html |title=Inter's pounds 28m swap deal for Lazio's Vieri |newspaper=The Independent |date=9 June 1999 |access-date=12 January 2014 |location=London |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140125130002/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-inters-pounds-28m-swap-deal-for-lazios-vieri-1099122.html |archive-date=25 January 2014 }} while Hernán Crespo's transfer from Parma to Lazio ensured he became the first player to cost more than £30 million.{{cite news |last=Agnew |first=Paddy |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2000/jul/12/newsstory.sport |title=Crespo to join Lazio in record £36m transfer |newspaper=The Guardian |date=12 July 2000 |access-date=12 January 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/20140113083040/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2000/jul/12/newsstory.sport |archive-date=13 January 2014 }} The transfer of Vieri led to the suicide of a Lazio fan, who wrote in his suicide note, "All that money for a footballer, but money is not everything in life,"{{cite news |last=Agnew |first=Paddy |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/1999/jun/12/newsstory.sport |title=Football's brave new world |date=12 June 1999 |access-date=19 April 2015 |work=The Guardian |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150405115201/http://www.theguardian.com/football/1999/jun/12/newsstory.sport |archive-date=5 April 2015 }} while the Crespo transfer prompted the BBC to ask, "[H]as the world gone mad?"{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/830192.stm |title=When transfers go mad |date=12 July 2000 |access-date=12 January 2014 |work=BBC |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170810033250/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/830192.stm |archive-date=10 August 2017 }}

Although Shearer's status as the world's most expensive footballer would only last for one year, he remained unmatched as the most expensive footballer in England for four years, when Chelsea signed the Dutch striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink for £15 million. Later that year, Shearer's record was finally eclipsed when Leeds United paid £18 million for West Ham United's Rio Ferdinand. In the summer of 2001, the English record was broken twice in the space of a few weeks, both times by Manchester United, who first signed Dutch striker Ruud van Nistelrooy for £19 million, and then signed Argentine midfielder Juan Sebastián Verón for £28.1 million. A year later, they broke the English record fee again by signing Rio Ferdinand from Leeds United for a fee in the region of £29 million, 11 years after Liverpool had paid a mere tenth of that figure to set an English record transfer fee when they signed Dean Saunders.

It took two weeks for the record to be broken when Luís Figo made a controversial £37 million move from Barcelona to fierce rivals Real Madrid.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/848836.stm|title=Figo's the Real deal|publisher=BBC|date=24 July 2000|access-date=1 September 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170802163822/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/848836.stm|archive-date=2 August 2017}} From that time through the 2015–16 season, Real Madrid held the record, with the next players to subsequently break the record being Zinedine Zidane in 2001 when he signed for £46 million from Juventus, Kaká from Milan for just under £60 million in 2009,The Times Madrid Signs Kaká [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/article6458907]{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

and £80 million transfer of Cristiano Ronaldo from Manchester United in the same year, lastly being Gareth Bale in 2013, who became the first player to cost €100 million when he transferred from Tottenham Hotspur. Manchester United claimed the record in 2016 when they spent €105 million for Paul Pogba, who returned to the club after four seasons at Juventus.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/37016170 |title=Paul Pogba: Manchester United re-sign France midfielder for world-record £89m |work=BBC Sport |date=8 August 2016 |access-date=8 August 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160810185215/http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/37016170 |archive-date=10 August 2016 }} This record was broken in 2017 when Paris Saint-Germain spent €222 million to sign Neymar from Barcelona.{{cite news |url=http://www.espnfc.com/soccer-transfers/story/3169463/paris-saint-germain-announce-signing-of-neymar-from-barcelona |title=Paris Saint-Germain announce signing of Neymar from Barcelona |first=Jonathan |last=Johnson |publisher=ESPN FC |date=3 August 2017 |access-date=3 August 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170804015150/http://www.espnfc.com/soccer-transfers/story/3169463/paris-saint-germain-announce-signing-of-neymar-from-barcelona |archive-date=4 August 2017 }}

There have been occasions when a world-record bid has been made but the transfer was never completed. In 2003, shortly after Roman Abramovich had taken over Chelsea, the club made a bid of £71.4 million (€101.5M) for Real Madrid's Raúl, which was rejected,{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/chelsea/3098705.stm |title=Raul snubs Chelsea |publisher=BBC |date=26 July 2003 |access-date=30 January 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090221062614/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/chelsea/3098705.stm |archive-date=21 February 2009 }} and in 2009, shortly having been taken over by Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Manchester City made a bid of £100 million (€111M) for Milan's Kaká.{{cite news |last1=Herbert |first1=Ian |last2=Burt |first2=Jason |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/transfers/163100m-city-in-record-bid-for-milans-kaka-1334461.html |title=£100m: City in record bid for Milan's Kaka |newspaper=The Independent |date=14 January 2009 |access-date=30 January 2014 |location=London |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140224224223/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/transfers/163100m-city-in-record-bid-for-milans-kaka-1334461.html |archive-date=24 February 2014 }} The bid was accepted, but after deliberating over the move for a week, Kaká turned down the transfer despite being offered weekly wages of £500,000.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_city/7838966.stm |title=Man City move for Kaka collapses |publisher=BBC |date=20 January 2003 |access-date=30 January 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090601203645/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_city/7838966.stm |archive-date=1 June 2009 }}{{cite news |last=Caroe |first=Charlie |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/manchester-city/4293039/Kaka-snubs-humiliated-Manchester-City.html |title=Kaka snubs humiliated Manchester City |newspaper=The Telegraph |date=19 January 2003 |access-date=30 January 2014 |location=London |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140316125457/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/manchester-city/4293039/Kaka-snubs-humiliated-Manchester-City.html |archive-date=16 March 2014 }}

The sharp rise in transfer fees since the 1990s, and in particular into the third millennium, has been attributed primarily to a large rise in television rights fees and sponsorship.{{cite news |last=Wilson |first=Bill |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-23282840 |title=Football transfer spending in steep rise |date=12 July 2013 |access-date=11 January 2014 |publisher=BBC |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131123055644/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-23282840 |archive-date=23 November 2013 }}{{cite news |last=Weir |first=Keith |url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-soccer-transfer-spending-idUKBRE9820K020130903 |title=Cash from TV deals drives record European soccer transfer spending spree |work=Reuters |date=3 September 2013 |access-date=11 January 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140111181616/http://uk.reuters.com/article/2013/09/03/uk-soccer-transfer-spending-idUKBRE9820K020130903 |archive-date=11 January 2014 }}{{cite news |last=Jackson |first=Jamie |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/feb/07/football-transfers-european-commission |title=Football transfers need overhaul to keep game competitive, says EC study |newspaper=The Guardian |date=7 February 2013 |access-date=11 January 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140111181545/http://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/feb/07/football-transfers-european-commission |archive-date=11 January 2014 }} For example, in 2013, new broadcaster BT Sport announced they had agreed to pay £897 million over a three-year period to gain exclusive broadcast rights to the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/24879138 |title=BT Sport wins £897m football rights deal |publisher=BBC |date=9 November 2013 |access-date=12 January 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131123001540/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/24879138 |archive-date=23 November 2013 }}

Transfer fees are not always officially confirmed by the transacting clubs,{{cite news |last=Butler |first=Michael |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2013/sep/04/undisclosed-fee-transfer-window-deadline |title=Premier League obsession with 'undisclosed fees' is an insult to fans |newspaper=The Guardian |date=3 September 2009 |access-date=11 January 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140111180404/http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2013/sep/04/undisclosed-fee-transfer-window-deadline |archive-date=11 January 2014 }} and figures published by unofficial sources may or may not take into account various fees such as those paid to agents or a third party,{{cite news |last=Conn |first=David |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/david-conn-inside-sport-blog/2011/jan/18/jorge-mendes-super-agent |title=Court case that shows who gets what from football's richest transfers |newspaper=The Guardian |date=18 January 2011 |access-date=11 January 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140111181612/http://www.theguardian.com/football/david-conn-inside-sport-blog/2011/jan/18/jorge-mendes-super-agent |archive-date=11 January 2014 }} performance-related elements of the fee, and the notional value of any players included in part exchange. This leads to different figures being given by different sources. Performance-related clauses have become more common in recent years, meaning that it is harder to produce definitive lists of the largest transfer fees than was the case in the past. For example, the 2004 transfer of Wayne Rooney from Everton to Manchester United cost an initial fee of £20 million that rose to £27 million due to the number of appearances he made and the number of trophies he won with the club.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/3611234.stm |title=Man Utd sign Rooney |date=31 August 2004 |access-date=28 June 2013 |publisher=BBC |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130923084647/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/3611234.stm |archive-date=23 September 2013 }}

The following tables show the highest transfer fees ever paid in euro for players and managers. The first features the top 20 most expensive transfers involving players, and contains eight transfers which broke the world transfer record: those of Neymar in 2017, Paul Pogba, Gareth Bale, Cristiano Ronaldo, Zinedine Zidane, Luís Figo and Hernán Crespo all broke the record.

The second list shows the top 20 most expensive transfers involving managers. When a manager moves from one club to another, it usually involves a small figure of compensation being paid, and the figure is rarely released publicly. Because of this, there have only been 20 managers who have ever cost more than £1 million in compensation, as detailed in the table.

File:Mbappe Messi Neymar.jpg (right) and Kylian Mbappé (left) are the two most expensive association football transfers.]]

Due to fluctuations in exchange rates lists of the most expensive transfers vary depending on the currency used. Most high-priced transfers take place between clubs in the Eurozone and/or the United Kingdom. Fees are often not officially announced, and figures reported by the media may not necessarily be accurate.

• List of most expensive association football transfers
• List of most expensive women's association football transfers

{{see also|List of most expensive association football transfers#Managers}}

For football managers, the list is as follows:

File:Julian Nagelsmann 2020.jpg was purchased by Bayern Munich from RB Leipzig for a world record-breaking fee of €25 Million in 2021.]]

As well as this type of regular transfer, which results in the player being "owned" by one club, other forms of transfer are used throughout South America and southern Europe.

A pre-contract is an agreement by a player and an agreeing to take his registration at a later date, and became more well known after the Bosman ruling in 1995.{{cite news |url=http://www.lawinsport.com/blog/john-shea/item/the-enforceability-of-pre-contracts-in-football |title=The enforceability of pre-contracts in football |publisher=Law In Sport |date=25 July 2013 |access-date=11 January 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140111053344/http://www.lawinsport.com/blog/john-shea/item/the-enforceability-of-pre-contracts-in-football |archive-date=11 January 2014 }} A club may sign a pre-contract with a player while he is still with another club, by which the player agrees to move to the club at a future date, usually after his contract with his current club expires. Under the Bosman ruling, a player can sign a contract with a new club up to six months before his existing contract expires.{{cite news |url=http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:61993CJ0415 |title=Union royale belge des sociétés de football association ASBL v Jean-Marc Bosman, Royal club liégeois SA v Jean-Marc Bosman and others and Union des associations européennes de football (UEFA) v Jean-Marc Bosman |publisher=European Union |date=15 December 1995 |access-date=23 July 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150831232144/http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:61993CJ0415 |archive-date=31 August 2015 }}

A pre-contract agreement may be broken by the player or the club, depending on the completeness of the terms of that pre-contract and thus how close it was to being considered a valid contract under local law. In the 2014 case of Beijing Renhe FC v. Marcin Robak, the player met with the Chinese club's owner, agreed on length and compensation, put those in writing, received a signed copy of both the transfer agreement from his current club and his employment contract, and then Beijing Renhe FC retracted the agreement while saying they couldn't finalize transfer terms with his departing club.{{cite web |last1=Macri |first1=Francesco |title=Pre-contracts in football employment relationships: a CAS case |url=https://theimpactlawyers.com/articles/pre-contracts-in-football-employment-relationships-a-cas-case |website=The Impact Lawyers |access-date=14 October 2023}} FIFA's Dispute Resolution body ruled that due to the extensive provisions and signatures on the exchanged documents, a legally binding contract had been entered into, and awarded €330,000 to Robak in compensation. On appeal, CAS upheld the award but further ruled that because of the tentative nature or omission of some common contract provisions, it was in fact a pre-contract, subject to lower damages (while still obliging all sides to resolve final contract terms in good faith, which the acquiring club had not done). In another case, Ross County midfielder Richard Brittain signed a pre-contract with St Johnstone. The agreement was made in January 2013,{{cite news |url=http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11781/8386576/ |title=Ross County midfielder Richard Brittain signs pre-contract with St Johnstone |publisher=Sky Sports |date=8 January 2013 |access-date=11 January 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140111232208/http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11781/8386576/ |archive-date=11 January 2014 }}{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20955662 |title=St Johnstone seal summer deal for Richard Brittain |publisher=BBC |date=9 January 2013 |access-date=11 January 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131017063620/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20955662 |archive-date=17 October 2013 }} but Brittain changed his mind three months later,{{cite news |url=http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/16213/8645134/Richard-Brittain-wants-to-stay-at-Ross-County-rather-than-join-St-Johnstone |title=Richard Brittain wants to stay at Ross County rather than join St Johnstone |publisher=Sky Sports |date=17 April 2013 |access-date=11 January 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131217224404/http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/16213/8645134/richard-brittain-wants-to-stay-at-ross-county-rather-than-join-st-johnstone |archive-date=17 December 2013 }} citing family reasons.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22169825 |title=Richard Brittain wants U-turn over St Johnstone move |publisher=BBC |date=16 April 2013 |access-date=11 January 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131016220711/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22169825 |archive-date=16 October 2013 }} Ross County registered the player as their own in June,{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22979690 |title=Richard Brittain registered as Ross County player with SFA |publisher=BBC |date=19 June 2013 |access-date=11 January 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130623060002/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22979690 |archive-date=23 June 2013 }} and, after discussions with the Scottish FA,{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22889194 |title=SPL helping resolve Richard Brittain registration dispute |publisher=BBC |date=14 June 2013 |access-date=11 January 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130618194100/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22889194 |archive-date=18 June 2013 }} St Johnstone and Ross County came to an agreement to let Brittain stay at the club, with St Johnstone cancelling the pre-contract agreement if Ross County paid compensation.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23083594 |title=St Johnstone cancel pre-contract with Ross County's Richard Brittain |publisher=BBC |date=28 June 2013 |access-date=11 January 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222200804/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23083594 |archive-date=22 February 2014 }}

Although a pre-contract agreement is usually signed to secure the future registration of a player, an agreement can be reached where the club gaining the registration can pay a fee to the other club to sign the player earlier, as was the case in January 2013, when Schalke 04 midfielder Lewis Holtby, who had six months remaining on his contract, signed a pre-contract agreement with Tottenham Hotspur,{{cite news |last=Riach |first=James |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/jan/04/tottenham-arsenal-schalke-lewis-holtby |title=Tottenham steal a march on Arsenal to sign Schalke's Lewis Holtby |newspaper=The Guardian |date=4 January 2013 |access-date=11 January 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140112002224/http://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/jan/04/tottenham-arsenal-schalke-lewis-holtby |archive-date=12 January 2014 }} but at the end of the month, Tottenham paid a fee of £1.5 million to bring the transfer forward.{{cite news |last=Hytner |first=David |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2013/jan/29/lewis-holtby-tottenham-hotspur |title=Lewis Holtby could prove to be Tottenham's deal of the century |date=29 January 2013 |access-date=11 January 2014 |newspaper=The Guardian |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140112001134/http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2013/jan/29/lewis-holtby-tottenham-hotspur |archive-date=12 January 2014 }}

Co-ownership is a system whereby a club will purchase 50% of the rights of a player's contract for one year and pay the wages, while also deciding which of the two clubs he will play for.{{cite news |last=Bandini |first=Nicky |url=http://blogs.thescore.com/counterattack/2013/07/15/bandini-the-weird-and-wonderful-world-of-player-co-ownership-in-italian-football/ |title=The weird and wonderful world of player co-ownership in Italian football |date=15 July 2013 |access-date=12 January 2014 |publisher=The Score |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140112012352/http://blogs.thescore.com/counterattack/2013/07/15/bandini-the-weird-and-wonderful-world-of-player-co-ownership-in-italian-football/ |archive-date=12 January 2014 }} At the end of the year, both clubs can choose to place a bid in an auction, where the highest bid wins. The co-ownership of Alessio Cerci by Torino and Fiorentina proved fruitful for Cerci and Torino,{{cite news |last=Bandini |first=Nicky |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2013/nov/04/serie-a-alessio-cerci-torino-italy |title=Torino and Italy given reason to smile by second coming of Alessio Cerci |date=4 November 2013 |access-date=12 January 2014 |newspaper=The Guardian |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131116032037/http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2013/nov/04/serie-a-alessio-cerci-torino-italy |archive-date=16 November 2013 }} who had paid €2.5 million for the first 50%,{{cite news |url=http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11866/8030793/cerci-completes-torino-switch |title=Cerci completes Torino switch |date=29 August 2012 |access-date=12 January 2014 |publisher=Sky Sports |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140112015039/http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11866/8030793/cerci-completes-torino-switch |archive-date=12 January 2014 }} and picked up the remainder of his contract after a successful year for just €3.8 million.{{cite news |url=http://www1.skysports.com/news/12040/8785784/ |title=Torino buy remaining half of Alessio Cerci's registration from Fiorentina |date=20 June 2013 |access-date=12 January 2014 |publisher=Sky Sports |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140112015300/http://www1.skysports.com/news/12040/8785784/ |archive-date=12 January 2014 }}

In May 2014, the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) announced it would be ending co-ownership of players to bring Serie A in line with every other league around Europe. The existing ownership deals could be for a year and at the end of it the player and the club must reach an agreement.

Third party ownership is ownership of a player's economic rights by third-party sources, such as football agents, sports-management agencies, or other investors. The involvement of investors in the "ownership" of players is a common practice in football, particularly in Brazil and Argentina, where many clubs are insolvent or financially limited. Businessmen or other investors buy shares in the economic rights of young players and often cover the costs of their training and accommodation. In return they are entitled to a percentage of a player's future transfer fee.{{cite news |last=Conn |first=David |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2007/mar/21/newsstory.sport |title=Hammers face a pounding over third-party player agreements |work=The Guardian |date=21 March 2007 |access-date=28 July 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140228153223/http://www.theguardian.com/football/2007/mar/21/newsstory.sport |archive-date=28 February 2014 }}

The transfer of Carlos Tevez to Manchester City for £47 million in 2009 was controversial for the part played by third-party owner Media Sports Investment (MSI).{{cite news |last=Conn |first=David |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/david-conn-inside-sport-blog/2011/aug/23/carlos-tevez-legal-battle-revealed |title=Carlos Tevez: The billionaires' fight over his ownership revealed |date=23 August 2011 |access-date=21 July 2013 |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130821165039/http://www.theguardian.com/sport/david-conn-inside-sport-blog/2011/aug/23/carlos-tevez-legal-battle-revealed |archive-date=21 August 2013 }}

{{further|topic=loan|loan (sports)}}

An alternative or an intermediary of a transfer, is a loan. This is where a player is allowed to temporarily play for a club other than the one he is currently contracted to. Loan deals may last from a few weeks to all season-long and can also last for a few seasons. Rarely, a loan of a player can be included in the transfer of another player; for example, the transfer of Dimitar Berbatov from Tottenham Hotspur to Manchester United for £31 million in 2008 included the loan of Fraizer Campbell in the opposite direction.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/t/tottenham_hotspur/7589224.stm |title=Spurs bring in Campbell on loan |date=1 September 2008 |access-date=30 September 2013 |publisher=BBC |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080919065241/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/t/tottenham_hotspur/7589224.stm |archive-date=19 September 2008 }}

Loans often require loanee clubs to pay the loaning club a loan fee for the privilege of obtaining the services of a player on loan. The loanee club, also usually has to pay for the entire salary owed to the player, during the duration of the loan. However, in both instances of high-profile loans of Alexis Sanchez (from Manchester United to Inter Milan in 2019{{Cite web|last=|date=2019-08-30|title=Sanchez joins Inter on loan, but will still be one of Man United's top earners|url=https://talksport.com/football/593903/alexis-sanchez-inter-milan-manchester-united/|access-date=2021-08-29|website=talkSPORT|language=en-US}}) and Gareth Bale (from Real Madrid to Tottenham in 2020{{Cite web|date=2020-10-18|title=How Bale's wages will compare to his new Spurs teammates - even with Real Madrid paying half|url=https://inews.co.uk/sport/football/gareth-bale-wages-tottenham-real-madrid-salary-comparison-harry-kane-652772|access-date=2021-08-29|website=inews.co.uk|language=en}}), the loaning clubs would continue to pay a sizeable percentage of the high salaries owed during the loan, in order to successfully complete the loan out of an underperforming player with high salaries, in search for more playing time.

Loans can also be used to facilitate a permanent transfer that will only occur in the following year’s summer transfer window, often termed Loan with Obligation to Buy.{{cite web | url=https://footballhandbook.com/loan-with-obligation-to-buy-football/ | title=Loan With Obligation To Buy In Football (Explained) | date=2 June 2022 | accessdate=26 January 2024 }} This is often conducted in order to spread out the balance of payments of the purchasing club over an extra year, in order to comply with UEFA Financial Fair Play regulations.

Loans can also be used in conjunction with a permanent transfer of the same player within the same transfer window; the purchasing club (who bought the contractual playing rights of a footballer) can subsequently loan the player back to the selling club or a third club. This is to ensure both the transfer of playing rights ownership (to the purchasing club) and the pursuit of obtaining more experience and matchplay elsewhere (away from the congested squad depth of the purchasing club).

A transfer may also include a buy-back clause, whereby the selling club attaches an exercisable option to buy-back the player at a predetermined financial amount (which is usually higher than the initial purchase price of the buying club), at a predetermined later date (usually two years after the completed sale).{{Cite web|title=Football transfers: Buy-Back Clauses explained - LawInSport|url=https://www.lawinsport.com/topics/contract-law/item/football-transfers-buy-back-clauses-explained?category_id=117|access-date=2021-08-30|website=www.lawinsport.com}} If the option is not exercised by a certain date, the option expires. This is usually conducted by elite clubs who had earlier bought talented young players but would prefer the young players to improve their abilities and become more experienced. For the purchasing club, this would also guarantee the player’s services for a predetermined period (of at least 2 years).

This differs from a standing loan, as player ownership changes to the purchasing club along with a transfer fee being sent to the selling club, which enhances the selling club’s ability to adapt to the UEFA Financial Fair Play regulations.

Often, the buy-back clause is included with another right of first refusal clause, whereby if any third club offers to purchase a player from his current club (second club); the former club of the player (first club) which had previously included the buy-back clause, is able to match any financial offer (made by any third club) to purchase the player.

{{further|topic=buyout clause|Buyout clause}}A buyout clause refers to a clause in a football player’s contract that requires a willing club which intends to purchase the playing rights of the football player under contract with his current club, to pay a stipulated amount (which is usually substantially high) as stated within the clause, to the club that still owns the contractual playing rights of the player. The buyout clause is only valid during the stipulated duration of the clause, and the current club may always choose to sell at a lower price and before the expiry of the clause, if it chooses to do so and agrees an early transfer with another club.

File:Robinho061115-2.jpg

Under FIFA rules,{{cite web |url=https://www.fifa.com/mm/document/affederation/administration/01/06/30/78/statusinhalt_en_122007.pdf |title=Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players |publisher=FIFA Official Website |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101222194217/http://www.fifa.com/mm/document/affederation/administration/01/06/30/78/statusinhalt_en_122007.pdf |archive-date=2010-12-22 }} if a professional football player transfers to another club during the course of a contract, 5% of any transfer fee, not including training compensation paid to his former club, shall be deducted from the total amount of this transfer fee and distributed by the new club as a solidarity contribution to the club(s) involved in his training and education over the years.

This solidarity contribution reflects the number of years he was registered with the relevant club(s) between the seasons of his 12th and 23rd birthdays, as follows:

As of July 2015, there is an ongoing controversy between several youth soccer clubs and the United States Soccer Federation (U.S. Soccer) over this issue. When Major League Soccer's Seattle Sounders FC sold the rights to DeAndre Yedlin to Tottenham Hotspur for US$4 million, a Seattle-area youth club for which Yedlin had played, Crossfire Premier, sought its share of solidarity payments. While Spurs acknowledged Crossfire's claim, MLS and U.S. Soccer intercepted the funds before they could be sent to Crossfire, claiming that the sealed ruling in a 1996 antitrust case gave MLS exclusive rights to all transfer fees involving league players. Crossfire has since petitioned FIFA to either force payment or allow the club to sue MLS and U.S. Soccer; several other youth clubs have since joined in Crossfire's request, including one of Clint Dempsey's previous clubs.{{cite news |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/soccer-fc-yahoo/youth-club-s-petition-to-fifa-could-bring-cataclysmic-change-to-u-s--soccer-193554944.html |title=Youth club's petition to FIFA could bring cataclysmic change to U.S. soccer |first=Leander |last=Schaerlaeckens |work=Yahoo! Sports |date=July 17, 2015 |access-date=July 28, 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150727043442/http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/soccer-fc-yahoo/youth-club-s-petition-to-fifa-could-bring-cataclysmic-change-to-u-s--soccer-193554944.html |archive-date=July 27, 2015 }}

• Stephen Appiah: solidarity contribution was excluded from the agreed €8 million price. Fenerbahçe had an obligation to pay former clubs for additional €400,000.{{cite web|url=http://www.tas-cas.org/d2wfiles/document/4337/5048/0/Award%201856%20%201857%20FINAL%20-%20caviard%C3%A9%20-%20version%20internet%20%C3%A0%20distribuer.pdf|title=CAS 2009/A/1856 – Club X. v/ A. & CAS 2009/A/1857 – A. v/ Club X.|date=7 June 2010|access-date=18 February 2011|publisher=CAS|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721053543/http://www.tas-cas.org/d2wfiles/document/4337/5048/0/Award%201856%20%201857%20FINAL%20-%20caviard%C3%A9%20-%20version%20internet%20%C3%A0%20distribuer.pdf|archive-date=21 July 2011}}
• Vitorino Antunes: €1.5 million x 5% x (5% x 4 seasons + 10% x 4 seasons) = €45,000 to Freamunde from Roma{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/mm/document/affederation/administration/drcsolidarity/210170.pdf|title=Decision of Dispute Resolution Chamber 210170|date=5 February 2010|access-date=18 February 2011|publisher=FIFA Official Website|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120616233700/http://www.fifa.com/mm/document/affederation/administration/drcsolidarity/210170.pdf|archive-date=16 June 2012}}
• Arjen Robben: €500,000 to Groningen from Bayern Munich{{cite web |url=http://www.fcgroningen.nl/uploads/media/Jaarverslag_FCGroningen_2009_2010.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2011-09-04 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110929111421/http://www.fcgroningen.nl/uploads/media/Jaarverslag_FCGroningen_2009_2010.pdf |archive-date=2011-09-29 }}
• Robinho: €1.805 million to Santos from Manchester City{{cite web |url=https://www.fifa.com/mm/document/affederation/administration/drcsolidarity/12101553.pdf |title=Decision of the Dispute Resolution Chamber (DRC) Judge 12101553 |date=13 December 2010 |access-date=3 November 2011 |publisher=FIFA Official Website |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120718023008/http://www.fifa.com/mm/document/affederation/administration/drcsolidarity/12101553.pdf |archive-date=18 July 2012 }}

Training Compensation is compensation to the cost of training the players. In FIFA status:

{{blockquote|Training compensation shall be paid to a player’s training club(s): (1) when a player signs his first contract as a professional and (2) each time a professional is transferred until the end of the season of his 23rd birthday."{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/mm/document/affederation/administration/regulations_on_the_status_and_transfer_of_players_en_33410.pdf|title=FIFA transfer regulations|work=FIFA.com|access-date=6 July 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080913151636/http://www.fifa.com/mm/document/affederation/administration/regulations_on_the_status_and_transfer_of_players_en_33410.pdf|archive-date=13 September 2008}}}}

However, FIFA does not have any power to force member associations to enforce the clause, thus FIFA only has jurisdiction on international transfers for claiming compensation. Youth clubs are ranked by their sizes to receive certain amount of money, which the schedule of rate would be updated periodically, however the rates would also be affected by the new club that signs the player.{{cite web |url=https://www.fifa.com/mm/document/affederation/administration/02/07/46/83/circularno.1354-regulationsonthestatusandtransferofplayers-categorisationofclubsandregistrationperiods.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2017-10-30 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305080351/http://www.fifa.com/mm/document/affederation/administration/02/07/46/83/circularno.1354-regulationsonthestatusandtransferofplayers-categorisationofclubsandregistrationperiods.pdf |archive-date=2016-03-05 }} Newcastle United had to pay compensation for Charles N'Zogbia even though was signed as a free agent.{{cite news |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/01a4-0ea76c0a6f1d-5a094bd8a037-1000--n-zogbia-staying-at-newcastle/ |title=N'Zogbia staying at Newcastle |date=17 December 2004 |access-date=21 April 2014 |publisher=UEFA Official Website |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140421051154/http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/newsid=270042.html |archive-date=21 April 2014 }}{{cite news |last=Haound |first=Patrick |url=http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11678/2353576/nzogbia-to-stay-with-magpies |title=N'Zogbia to stay with Magpies |access-date=21 April 2014 |publisher=Sky Sports |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140421081728/http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11678/2353576/nzogbia-to-stay-with-magpies |archive-date=21 April 2014 }}

Disagreement over training compensation sometimes produces legal battles in order to escape the payment, which Matthias Lepiller was signed in 2006 by Fiorentina, however an appeal in the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) was rejected in 2011, five years after Lepiller left the club. Clubs also arranged special transfer agreement in order to lower the actual signing cost. For example, Attila Filkor joined a Maltese club as free agent and immediately sold to Inter Milan. As the schedule of rates between Maltese and Italian top division were different, cost was saved until Filkor's mother club sued Inter to FIFA.

The FA has its own system of training compensation; for example, Chelsea were required to pay compensation to Manchester City for Daniel Sturridge.

In Italy,{{cite web |url=http://www.figc.it/Assets/contentresources_2/ContenutoGenerico/56.$plit/C_2_ContenutoGenerico_3817_Sezioni_lstSezioni_numSezione_1_lstCapitoli_numCapitolo_6_upfFileUpload_it.pdf |title=NORME ORGANIZZATIVE INTERNE DELLA F.I.G.C. |access-date=5 March 2014 |publisher=FIGC |language=it |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110626060033/http://www.figc.it/Assets/contentresources_2/ContenutoGenerico/56.%24plit/C_2_ContenutoGenerico_3817_Sezioni_lstSezioni_numSezione_1_lstCapitoli_numCapitolo_6_upfFileUpload_it.pdf |archive-date=26 June 2011 }} Career Premium ({{langx|it|Premio alla carriera}}) were paid to mother club once the players had make his Serie A debut or Italy under-21 debut,ditto., NOIF Art.99-bis for example, Davide Moscardelli. While Preparation Premium ({{langx|it|Premi di Preparazione}}) were paid to youth clubs when the players signed his first professional contract.ditto., NOIF Art.99

One method of club punishment used by FIFA is a ban on transfers.

In 2005 Italian team Roma were given a one-year transfer ban by FIFA, beginning on 1 July, when in September 2004, French centre back Philippe Mexès joined the club while still contracted with Auxerre.{{cite news |url=http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11817/2340571/roma-handed-transfer-ban |title=Roma handed transfer ban |date=1 July 2005 |access-date=23 July 2014 |publisher=Sky Sports |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140726094821/http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11817/2340571/roma-handed-transfer-ban |archive-date=26 July 2014 }}{{cite news |url=http://www.worldsoccer.com/news/roma-handed-transfer-ban |title=Roma handed transfer ban |date=1 July 2005 |access-date=23 July 2014 |publisher=World Soccer |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140729013502/http://www.worldsoccer.com/news/roma-handed-transfer-ban |archive-date=29 July 2014 }} On appeal to the CAS in December 2005, the ban was reduced to end after the January transfer window, but the CAS upheld the view Roma had "not only encouraged Mexès to break his contract with Auxerre, but actively provoked the break".{{cite news |url=http://espnfc.com/news/story?id=351234 |title=Roma's transfer ban for Mexes move upheld |date=5 December 2005 |access-date=5 September 2009 |publisher=ESPN |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140421125318/http://espnfc.com/news/story?id=351234 |archive-date=21 April 2014 }}

In April 2009 Swiss team Sion were told by FIFA they could not sign any players until the 2010 off-season as punishment for signing Egyptian goalkeeper Essam El-Hadary from Egyptian team Al Ahly in 2008 before his contract expired. In 2011, UEFA threatened to ban all Swiss teams from European competition,{{cite news |url=http://www1.skysports.com/FIFA-World-Cup-2014/news/13958/7382468/fifa-threaten-swiss-ban |title=FIFA threaten Swiss ban |date=17 December 2011 |access-date=23 July 2014 |publisher=Sky Sports |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140726094658/http://www1.skysports.com/FIFA-World-Cup-2014/news/13958/7382468/fifa-threaten-swiss-ban |archive-date=26 July 2014 }}{{cite news |url=http://www.espnfc.com/story/997758/fifa-threaten-switzerland-ban-over-sion-case |title=FIFA threaten Switzerland ban |date=17 December 2011 |access-date=23 July 2014 |publisher=ESPN |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140727231454/http://www.espnfc.com/story/997758/fifa-threaten-switzerland-ban-over-sion-case |archive-date=27 July 2014 }} ordering the Swiss Football Association to make the decision.{{cite news |url=https://www.fifa.com/aboutfifa/organisation/news/newsid=1522313/ |title=FIFA Emergency Committee directs Swiss FA to execute decision related to transfer ban on FC Sion |date=5 October 2011 |access-date=23 July 2014 |publisher=FIFA Official Website |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141211043920/http://www.fifa.com/aboutfifa/organisation/news/newsid=1522313/ |archive-date=11 December 2014 }} Sion were eventually given a 36-point deduction.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/16366160 |title=FC Sion 36-point penalty ends Man Utd hopes of European reprieve |date=30 December 2011 |access-date=23 July 2014 |publisher=BBC |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140817151646/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/16366160 |archive-date=17 August 2014 }}{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/european/sion-deducted-36-points-over-ineligible-players-6283129.html |title=Sion deducted 36 points over ineligible players |date=30 December 2011 |access-date=23 July 2014 |newspaper=The Independent |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140728062021/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/european/sion-deducted-36-points-over-ineligible-players-6283129.html |archive-date=28 July 2014 }}

On 3 September 2009 Chelsea were banned from registering any new players in the January and Summer 2010 transfer windows after FIFA's dispute resolution chamber (DRC) ruled that French winger Gaël Kakuta had breached his contract with Lens when he joined Chelsea in 2007, and that Chelsea had induced him to do so.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/chelsea/8236187.stm |title=Chelsea angered by new signings ban |date=4 September 2009 |access-date=21 April 2014 |publisher=BBC |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090904100659/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/c/chelsea/8236187.stm |archive-date=4 September 2009 }}{{cite news |last=Gibson |first=Owen |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2009/sep/03/chelsea-fifa-transfer-ban-gael-kakuta |title=Chelsea banned by Fifa from signing players till 2011 over Gaël Kakuta |date=3 September 2009 |access-date=23 July 2014 |newspaper=The Guardian |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140728222406/http://www.theguardian.com/football/2009/sep/03/chelsea-fifa-transfer-ban-gael-kakuta |archive-date=28 July 2014 }} However, the ban was quickly lifted by the CAS when Chelsea agreed to pay £793,000 in compensation and training costs.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/chelsea/8499169.stm |title=Court lifts Chelsea transfer ban over Kakuta signing |date=4 February 2010 |access-date=23 July 2014 |publisher=BBC}}{{cite news |last=Wallace |first=Sam |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/chelsea-win-kakuta-case-to-overturn-transfer-ban-1889990.html |title=Chelsea win Kakuta case to overturn transfer ban |date=5 February 2010 |access-date=23 July 2014 |newspaper=The Independent |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140728065229/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/chelsea-win-kakuta-case-to-overturn-transfer-ban-1889990.html |archive-date=28 July 2014 }} In February 2019, Chelsea were banned by FIFA from signing new player for the next two transfer windows. The FIFA's Disciplinary Committee held the club liable for breaches in regards to international transfer and registration of players under the age of 18. The Stamford outfit was charged under Article 19 in relation to 92 players, of which 29 were reportedly found guilty.{{cite web|url=https://www.koamnewsnow.com/sports/chelsea-handed-transfer-ban-by-fifa/1034443900|title=Chelsea handed transfer ban by FIFA|access-date=22 February 2019|publisher=KoamNewsNow}}

In 2009 English team Portsmouth were banned from signing new players until debts owed to fellow English teams Chelsea and Arsenal were paid with regard to the transfers of Glen Johnson in 2007 and Lassana Diarra in 2008.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2009/oct/28/portsmouth-transfer-embargo-premier-league |title=Portsmouth are under a transfer embargo, the Premier League confirms |date=28 October 2009 |newspaper=The Guardian |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170214223332/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2009/oct/28/portsmouth-transfer-embargo-premier-league |archive-date=14 February 2017 }} The ban was lifted three months later by the Premier League.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/p/portsmouth/8481245.stm |title=Premier League lifts Portsmouth transfer embargo |date=26 January 2010 |work=BBC Sport}}

In February 2012 English team Port Vale received a transfer embargo due to an unpaid bill, which meant that the signing of ex-Vale player Chris Birchall could not be completed.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17166373 |title=Port Vale hit by transfer embargo |work=BBC Sport |date=25 February 2012 |access-date=17 December 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120301101437/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17166373 |archive-date=1 March 2012 }} Less than two weeks later, Vale entered administration.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17230886 |title=Port Vale formally enter administration |work=BBC Sport |date=9 March 2012 |access-date=17 December 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131218053434/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17230886 |archive-date=18 December 2013 }} In November 2012, upon the completion of the purchase of the club by Paul Wildes, Vale exited administration and the embargo was lifted.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20415308 |title=Port Vale exit administration as Paul Wildes completes takeover |work=BBC Sport |date=20 November 2012 |access-date=17 December 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121128024220/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20415308 |archive-date=28 November 2012 }} Soon after, Vale eventually completed the signing of Birchall,{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20904814 |title=Micky Adams signs Chris Birchall for third time |work=BBC Sport |date=3 January 2012 |access-date=17 December 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130106040926/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20904814 |archive-date=6 January 2013 }} who had been playing with Major League Soccer's Columbus Crew.{{cite news |url=http://www.thecrew.com/news/2012/05/crew-signs-tt-international-midfielder-chris-birchall |title=Crew signs T&T International Midfielder Chris Birchall |date=7 May 2012 |access-date=17 December 2013 |publisher=Columbus Crew Official Website |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131219012802/http://www.thecrew.com/news/2012/05/crew-signs-tt-international-midfielder-chris-birchall |archive-date=19 December 2013 }}

In 2012 Scottish team Rangers were given a 12-month registration ban by the Scottish Football Association for breaching rule 66 – bringing the game into disrepute. This meant Rangers could still transfer players into the club, but they could not be registered with the governing body. This came after Rangers entered administration.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17821054 |title=Rangers handed 12-month transfer ban by Scottish FA |date=24 April 2012 |work=BBC Sport |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160104012241/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17821054 |archive-date=4 January 2016 }} A Court of Session judge had ruled that the Scottish Football Association (SFA) acted beyond its powers in imposing the year-long transfer ban on Rangers,{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-18248766 |title=Rangers win court challenge over SFA transfer ban |date=28 May 2012 |work=BBC Sport }} but Rangers accepted the ban as a condition of gaining membership to the Scottish Football Association.{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/rangers/9416156/Rangers-newco-accept-12-month-transfer-ban-in-order-to-secure-SFA-admission.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/rangers/9416156/Rangers-newco-accept-12-month-transfer-ban-in-order-to-secure-SFA-admission.html |archive-date=2022-01-12 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Rangers newco accept 12-month transfer ban in order to secure SFA admission |date=20 July 2012 |newspaper=Telegraph }}{{cbignore}} Also in 2012, fellow Scottish team Hearts received a two-month ban for failing to pay the wages of six first-team players and manager McGlynn on time.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20071241 |title=Hearts: SPL imposes new registration embargo for wage delays |date=24 October 2012 |work=BBC Sport |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121201021321/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20071241 |archive-date=1 December 2012 }} In 2013 they received an eight-month ban for entering administration, meaning new players would not be able to registered with the club until February 2014.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23536242 |title=Hearts: Registration ban to run until February 2014 |date=1 August 2013 |work=BBC Sport |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151018023710/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23536242 |archive-date=18 October 2015 }}

In December 2012 English team Bury received a transfer ban after the club took out a short-term loan with the Professional Footballers' Association (PFA).{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20664209 |title=Bury placed under transfer embargo by Football League |work=BBC Sport |date=10 December 2012 |access-date=17 December 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131225211545/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20664209 |archive-date=25 December 2013 }} The ban was lifted in January 2013 after they repaid the loan,{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21089026 |title=Bury: Transfer embargo lifted after repaying PFA loan |work=BBC Sport |date=18 January 2013 |access-date=17 December 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131016214741/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21089026 |archive-date=16 October 2013 }} but in February they received a second embargo after receiving another loan from the PFA.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21552861 |title=Bury: Second transfer embargo for League One strugglers |work=BBC Sport |date=22 February 2013 |access-date=17 December 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131016214746/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21552861 |archive-date=16 October 2013 }} This embargo lasted until May 2013, when the club were taken over by Stewart Day and the loans were repaid, at which point the club had been relegated to League Two and been forced to release 16 players.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22701080 |title=Bury takeover finally completed and embargo lifted |work=BBC Sport |date=29 May 2013 |access-date=17 December 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131016181625/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22701080 |archive-date=16 October 2013 }}

In 2013 English team Watford received a five-month transfer ban for breaching football rules during the period from September 2011 until former owner Laurence Bassini sold the club to Giampaolo Pozzo in June 2012. Watford and Bassini were found guilty of failing to inform the football authorities about financial agreements set up with a company called LNOC, in particular their role in the transfer of Danny Graham to Swansea City.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21829894 |title=Watford placed under transfer embargo and former owner banned |date=19 March 2013 |work=BBC Sport |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131017145656/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21829894 |archive-date=17 October 2013 }} During the embargo period Watford were still able to register players with prior permission from league officials.

In 2013 French team Nantes received a ban lasting two transfer windows after breaking rules over the 2012 signing of striker Ismaël Bangoura from Emirati club Al Nasr.{{cite news |last=Holyman |first=Ian |url=http://www.espnfc.com/story/1326976 |title=Nantes hit with one-year transfer ban |date=4 February 2013 |access-date=23 July 2014 |publisher=ESPN |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140727210610/http://www.espnfc.com/story/1326976 |archive-date=27 July 2014 }} It was ruled that Nantes had persuaded Bangoura to break his contract with the UAE team, and were fined €4.5 million by FIFA, to be paid to Al Nasr.{{cite news |url=http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11825/8470982/nantes-banned-from-signing-new-players-in-next-two-transfer-windows |title=Nantes banned from signing new players in next two transfer windows |date=28 June 2013 |publisher=Sky Sports |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130901205717/http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11825/8470982/nantes-banned-from-signing-new-players-in-next-two-transfer-windows |archive-date=1 September 2013 }} After an initial reprieve,{{cite news |url=http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11825/8776821/nantes-have-been-granted-a-temporary-reprieve-from-a-transfer-ban |title=Nantes have been granted a temporary reprieve from a transfer ban |date=28 June 2013 |access-date=23 July 2014 |publisher=Sky Sports |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140726094640/http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11825/8776821/nantes-have-been-granted-a-temporary-reprieve-from-a-transfer-ban |archive-date=26 July 2014 }} the ban was upheld.{{cite news |last=Rodden |first=Mark |url=http://www.espnfc.com/french-ligue-1/story/1740937/ligue-1-side-nantes-handed-transfer-embargo |title=Nantes handed transfer embargo |date=7 March 2014 |access-date=23 July 2014 |publisher=ESPN |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140727213305/http://www.espnfc.com/french-ligue-1/story/1740937/ligue-1-side-nantes-handed-transfer-embargo |archive-date=27 July 2014 }}{{cite news |url=http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11825/9200991/ligue-1-nantes-must-observe-a-16-month-transfer-embargo-after-appeal-fails |title=Nantes must observe a 16-month transfer embargo after appeal fails |date=7 March 2014 |access-date=23 July 2014 |publisher=Sky Sports |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140726092954/http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11825/9200991/ligue-1-nantes-must-observe-a-16-month-transfer-embargo-after-appeal-fails |archive-date=26 July 2014 }}{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/26482709 |title=Nantes receive 16-month transfer ban after Ismael Bangoura dispute |date=7 March 2014 |access-date=23 July 2014 |publisher=BBC |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140825001858/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/26482709 |archive-date=25 August 2014 }}

In April 2014 Spanish club Barcelona received a transfer ban for two consecutive windows starting June 2014 and a fine of £305,000 for breaches relating to the international transfer and registration of players under the age of 18, while the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) received a fine of £340,000 and told to "regularise its regulatory framework and existing system concerning the international transfer of minors in football".{{cite news |url=https://www.fifa.com/aboutfifa/organisation/news/newsid=2313003/ |title=Spanish FA, FC Barcelona sanctioned for international transfers of minors |date=2 April 2014 |access-date=2 April 2014 |publisher=FIFA Official Website |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140404202756/http://www.fifa.com/aboutfifa/organisation/news/newsid=2313003/ |archive-date=4 April 2014 }}{{cite news |last=Rumsby |first=Ben |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/barcelona/10739015/Barcelona-handed-one-year-transfer-ban-for-breaking-rules-over-international-transfer-of-under-18s.html |title=Barcelona handed one-year transfer ban for breaking rules over international transfer of under-18s |date=2 April 2014 |access-date=24 May 2014 |newspaper=The Telegraph |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140424212749/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/barcelona/10739015/Barcelona-handed-one-year-transfer-ban-for-breaking-rules-over-international-transfer-of-under-18s.html |archive-date=24 April 2014 }}

{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/26852466 |title=Barcelona transfer ban: Fifa issues 14-month sanction |date=2 April 2014 |access-date=24 May 2014 |publisher=FIFA Official Website |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140428000741/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/26852466 |archive-date=28 April 2014 }} FIFA's regulations dictate that international transfers regarding minors are only accepted in three scenarios: (1) the player's parents have moved to another country for non-related reasons; (2) the move takes place within the European Union if the player is aged between 16 and 18; or (3) the player's home is less than 50 km from the national border being crossed.{{cite news |last=Corrigan |first=Dermot |url=http://www.espnfc.com/news/story/_/id/1772107/fifa-hits-barcelona-transfer-ban |title=FIFA hits Barcelona with transfer ban |date=2 April 2014 |access-date=24 May 2014 |publisher=ESPN |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140526101415/http://www.espnfc.com/news/story/_/id/1772107/fifa-hits-barcelona-transfer-ban |archive-date=26 May 2014 }}{{cite news |last=Aarons |first=Ed |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/apr/02/barcelona-transfer-ban-warning-signs-fifa |title=Barcelona fail to heed warning signs as Fifa cracks down on youth transfers |date=2 April 2014 |access-date=24 May 2014 |newspaper=The Guardian |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140525202405/http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/apr/02/barcelona-transfer-ban-warning-signs-fifa |archive-date=25 May 2014 }} However the ban was temporarily lifted until the end of the transfer window, giving the club the ability to purchase players in the summer transfer window of 2014,{{cite news |last=Gibson |first=Owen |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/apr/23/barcelona-transfer-ban-suspended-fifa |title=Barcelona's transfer ban suspended by Fifa pending appeal |date=23 April 2014 |access-date=24 May 2014 |newspaper=The Guardian |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140525200745/http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/apr/23/barcelona-transfer-ban-suspended-fifa |archive-date=25 May 2014 }}{{cite news |last=Ziegler |first=Martyn |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/transfers/barcelona-transfer-ban-fifa-suspend-twowindow-ban-pending-barcelonas-appeal-as-club-are-free-to-sign-players-in-summer-9277306.html |title=Barcelona transfer ban: Barcelona free to sign players this summer after ban if lifted pending appeal |date=23 April 2014 |access-date=24 May 2014 |newspaper=The Independent |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140525195348/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/transfers/barcelona-transfer-ban-fifa-suspend-twowindow-ban-pending-barcelonas-appeal-as-club-are-free-to-sign-players-in-summer-9277306.html |archive-date=25 May 2014 }}{{cite news |url=http://www.espn.co.uk/football/sport/story/301979.html |title=Barcelona transfer ban suspended |date=23 April 2014 |access-date=24 May 2014 |publisher=ESPN |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140429123245/http://www.espn.co.uk/football/sport/story/301979.html |archive-date=29 April 2014 }} during which they were able to complete the purchases of Marc-André ter Stegen,{{cite news |last=de Menezes |first=Jack |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/transfers/marcandre-ter-stegen-joins-barcelona-german-goalkeeper-presented-as-barcelonas-first-transfer-of-the-summer-to-replace-victor-valdes-9418241.html |title=Marc-Andre ter Stegen joins Barcelona |date=22 May 2014 |access-date=24 May 2014 |newspaper=The Independent |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140522211018/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/transfers/marcandre-ter-stegen-joins-barcelona-german-goalkeeper-presented-as-barcelonas-first-transfer-of-the-summer-to-replace-victor-valdes-9418241.html |archive-date=22 May 2014 }} Claudio Bravo,{{cite news |last=Ledwith |first=Dermot |url=http://www.espnfc.com/club/barcelona/83/blog/post/1937078/barcelona-sign-claudio-bravo |title=Barcelona sign Claudio Bravo |date=7 July 2014 |access-date=11 July 2014 |publisher=ESPN |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140711082442/http://www.espnfc.com/club/barcelona/83/blog/post/1937078/barcelona-sign-claudio-bravo |archive-date=11 July 2014 }} Luis Suárez,{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/28180600 |title=Luis Suarez: Liverpool & Barcelona agree £75m deal for striker |date=11 July 2014 |access-date=1 June 2017 |publisher=BBC |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170414144509/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/28180600 |archive-date=14 April 2017 }} Jérémy Mathieu{{cite news |url=http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11833/9391598/transfer-news-barcelona-have-signed-valencia-left-back-jeremy-mathieu |title=Barcelona sign France defender Jeremy Mathieu from Valencia |date=23 July 2014 |access-date=30 August 2014 |publisher=Sky Sports |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140903050209/http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11833/9391598/transfer-news-barcelona-have-signed-valencia-left-back-jeremy-mathieu |archive-date=3 September 2014 }} and Thomas Vermaelen.{{cite news |last=De Menezes |first=Jack |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/transfers/thomas-vermaelen-joins-barcelona-arsenal-captain-completes-15m-move-to-barcelona-as-manchester-united-miss-out-9659355.html |title=Thomas Vermaelen joins Barcelona |date=9 August 2014 |access-date=29 August 2014 |newspaper=The Independent |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140816231851/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/transfers/thomas-vermaelen-joins-barcelona-arsenal-captain-completes-15m-move-to-barcelona-as-manchester-united-miss-out-9659355.html |archive-date=16 August 2014 }} The appeal was rejected on 20 August.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/aug/20/barcelona-two-window-transfer-embargo-fifa-reject-appeal |title=Barcelona face two-window transfer embargo after Fifa rejects appeal |date=20 August 2014 |access-date=29 August 2014 |newspaper=The Guardian |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140822084444/http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/aug/20/barcelona-two-window-transfer-embargo-fifa-reject-appeal |archive-date=22 August 2014 }}{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/european/barcelona-transfer-ban-fifa-ban-barcelona-from-signing-new-players-until-2016-9680640.html |title=Fifa bans Barcelona from signing new players until 2016 |date=20 August 2014 |access-date=29 August 2014 |newspaper=The Independent |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140825114601/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/european/barcelona-transfer-ban-fifa-ban-barcelona-from-signing-new-players-until-2016-9680640.html |archive-date=25 August 2014 }} The ban was said to have "shattered" Barcelona's image.{{cite news |last=West |first=Andy |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/26857857 |title=From bad to worse for Barcelona - the tarnishing of a golden image |date=2 April 2014 |access-date=24 May 2014 |publisher=BBC |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140405175833/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/26857857 |archive-date=5 April 2014 }} Sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta was sacked in January 2015 for the part he played.{{cite news |last=Jenson |first=Pete |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/european/andoni-zubizarreta-sacked-by-barcelona-for-transfer-mistakes-9959443.html |title=Andoni Zubizarreta sacked by Barcelona for transfer mistakes |date=5 January 2015 |access-date=10 January 2015 |newspaper=The Independent |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150109143631/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/european/andoni-zubizarreta-sacked-by-barcelona-for-transfer-mistakes-9959443.html |archive-date=9 January 2015 }}

In December 2014 English teams Blackburn Rovers, Leeds United and Nottingham Forest were given a transfer ban of one transfer window for breaking league-implemented financial fair play regulations; the three clubs exceeded deviation limitations on operating loss and shareholder investment, set at £8 million.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/30478833 |title=Blackburn, Leeds and Nottingham Forest handed transfer embargoes |date=15 December 2014 |access-date=15 December 2014 |publisher=BBC |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141215135214/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/30478833 |archive-date=15 December 2014 }}{{cite news |url=http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11688/9607552/blackburn-leeds-and-nottingham-forest-hit-with-transfer-embargo |title=Blackburn, Leeds and Nottingham Forest hit with transfer embargo |date=15 December 2014 |access-date=15 December 2014 |publisher=Sky Sports |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141215221659/http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11688/9607552/blackburn-leeds-and-nottingham-forest-hit-with-transfer-embargo |archive-date=15 December 2014 }}

In February 2019, Chelsea were banned by FIFA from signing new players for two transfer windows. The ban was handed following breach of international transfer and registration of players under the age of 18. However, the club still reserved the right to appeal to Court of Arbitration for Sport.{{cite web|url=https://lastwordonfootball.com/2019/02/22/chelsea-handed-transfer-ban-for-breaching-fifa-rules/|title=Chelsea Handed Transfer Ban After Breaching FIFA Rules|access-date=22 February 2019|website=last word on football|date=22 February 2019}} In December 2019, the ban was reduced by CAS ahead of January transfer window.{{cite web|url=https://playingfor90.com/2019/12/07/chelsea-boosted-reduced-transfer-ban/|title=Chelsea boosted by reduced transfer ban|access-date=7 December 2019|website=Playing for 90|date=7 December 2019}} However, the club in its statement said that FIFA's conduct was “deeply unsatisfactory".“The approach taken by FIFA to this case has been deeply unsatisfactory, not least as FIFA chose to treat Chelsea entirely differently to Manchester City for reasons that make absolutely no sense to Chelsea,” a club's statement read.{{cite web|url=https://www.halsteadgazette.co.uk/uk_national_sport/18085997.chelsea-criticise-fifa-handling-transfer-ban-case/|title=Chelsea criticise FIFA handling of transfer ban case|access-date=6 December 2019|website=Halstead Gazette}}

The European Union's top court has declared some of FIFA's player transfer rules, particularly those requiring compensation when players end contracts early, as incompatible with EU free movement laws. The case, centered on former player Lassana Diarra, could prompt FIFA to revise its transfer policies, potentially giving players greater flexibility to switch clubs.{{Cite news |date=31 August 2024 |title=EU top court says some FIFA player transfer rules breach EU law |newspaper=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/sports/soccer/eu-top-court-says-fifa-player-transfer-rules-breach-eu-law-2024-10-04/|access-date=5 October 2024}}

• Buyout clause
• Co-ownership (football)
• Cup-tied
• List of most expensive association football transfers
• Loan (sports)
• Retain and transfer system
• Third-party ownership in association football
• Trade (sports)
• World football transfer record, progression of football transfer fee record

{{reflist|30em}}

• [https://digitalhub.fifa.com/m/41c272bcbc3b19df/original/c83ynehmkp62h5vgwg9g-pdf.pdf Transfer regulations] of FIFA (PDF)
• [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/6314369.stm The anatomy of a transfer deal] by BBC Sport

{{Association football}}

Category:Association football terminology