The Impact of the New Brexit Rules on EPL Clubs

The exit of the UK from the European Union is going to have consequences that will change the English Premier League, as we know it as from January 1.

European citizens will now need a visa to work in the country. After much back and forth between the FA, Premier League and EFL, the criteria for determining who qualifies were agreed in December. Clubs have a month to get familiar with the new rules and implement them.

The Immediate Implications

The two immediate implications of the new rules are: firstly, EU players hoping to move to the UK will no longer have special preference; they will be treated the same way as players from other parts of the world. Secondly, as long as they can boast of an impressive CV, they won’t have any difficulty getting in.

Qualification is going to be determined by the number of the Governing Body Endorsement (GBE) points accrued by the player. These points are awarded based on where you’ve played before, the duration, and at what level? If a male player scores up to 15, he’s in.

A player that plays for a club in a band 1 league (La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga and Ligue 1) and appears on the roster at least once scores 12 points. If a player makes it to the bench for a Champions’ League match, that’s five more.

All things considered, the new rules will help English clubs continue to sign the very best players.

In the Long Run

As a consequence of these new rules, the value of English players is bound to go up, which is great news, from an English point of view. Furthermore, the rules make it easier for top clubs in the EPL to sign the brightest young talents from all around the world. On the flip side, transfers and player registrations are going to become more frenzied.