A closer look at the current rules regarding loan limits and how they apply to Leicester City
A turbulent few days for Leeds United has seen the club’s loan situation come to the boil. Since relegation, a total of 13 players have left club, including seven on loan.
That means that just £4million has been raised in fees, an eye-watering difference between the other two relegated sides Leicester City and Southampton who have both banked sums in the tens of millions this summer, helping them grapple with the dual challenge of remoulding their squads for the Championship and staying on top of financial fair play requirements.
Leeds have found themselves in this corner because of clauses in players’ contracts that have taken the matter out of the club’s hands, with Jack Harrison’s temporary move to Everton the latest blow delivered to a fanbase that has had to roll with the punches this summer.
Just over a fortnight of the transfer window remains but the good news – if you could call it that – is that there is a limit to the amount of players Leeds are able to ship out on loan – internationally, at least. Here is a look at what the FIFA rulebook says.
READ MORE: Why Leeds United are letting so many players leave on loan after relegation
What are the current FIFA loan rules?
FIFA approved a new set of loan rules last year that were introduced in order to prevent clubs from stockpiling players (*waves at Stamford Bridge*).
We are halfway through a gradual phasing in of the new rule, with teams currently allowed to loan out a maximum of seven players and are also restricted to signing a total of seven players. Next season this number will drop to six players.
This rule covers only international loans and is only applicable to players over the age of 21. Domestic loans, such as Jack Harrison’s move to Everton, do not therefore count toward these limits.
The loan moves started early this summer and have kept on coming. Robin Koch has joined Eintracht Frankfurt, Brenden Aaronson also made the move to Germany with Union Berlin, Marc Roca is at Real Betis, Diego Llorente went back to Roma and was joined by Rasmus Kristensen, while Max Wober joined Borussia Monchenglad. That makes six international, over-21s loans.
Jack Harrison became the seventh loan exit this week when he joined Everton, but as stated above, as this is a domestic loan, it does not count for the overseas quota.
How many more loan places are available?
Following the above exodus Leeds are permitted to make just one more international over-21 loan this season. There have been reports coming out of Italy regarding a potential loan move for Leo Hjelde to Serie A side Salernitana, but as the Norwegian defender is just 19 years old, this would not count.
The transfer window runs up until 11pm on September 1.
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