Premier League rules could dictate Newcastle United’s next summer transfers after £114m deals agreed
Newcastle United are close to reaching their limit of signing youngsters from abroad this summer – and that could dictate their next moves in the summer transfer window.
The Magpies had already completed the signings of Ewen Jaouen, Bazoumana Toure, Sean Steur, Afner Ca and Aladji Bamba before the completed a deal for Braga and Czechia goalkeeper Lukas Hornicek earlier this week. At the age of 24-years-old, Hornicek does not fall under new regulations on signing foreign youngsters put in place by the Football Association, Premier League and EFL as they agreed a plan for the transfer market in the aftermath of the United Kingdom’s exit from the European Union.
However, Jaouen, Toure, Steur, Ca and Bamba do come within those regulations and they state clubs can only sign a maximum of six players under the age of 21 per season and a maximum of three can come during the January transfer window.
A statement released on the FA website in 2020 said: “Players accumulating the requisite amount of points will earn a GBE automatically, while players just below the threshold may be considered for a GBE by an Exceptions Panel. The system meets the joint objectives of the Premier League, EFL and the FA allowing access to the best players and future talent for clubs, as well as safeguarding England teams, by ensuring opportunities for homegrown players.
“In the Premier League, the number of overseas U21 players a club can sign will be limited to three in the January transfer window and six per season moving forwards. This enables the recruitment of the best players from around the world to train and play together with homegrown talent.”
However, the UK’s exit from the EU means Premier League and EFL clubs are unable to sign players under the age of 18 from clubs abroad. That is why 17-year-old Ecuadorian winger Johan Martinez will not arrive on Tyneside until next summer despite the Magpies agreeing a deal with his club Independiente del Valle earlier this summer.
