Bad news for Chelsea and Man City as Fifa considers slashing player loans to just four

Fifa is considering limiting teams to loaning out a maximum of just four players per season, i can reveal.

The plans would mean Europe’s biggest clubs – most notably Chelsea and Manchester City – would have to radically overhaul their squads and recruiting practices.

Fifa is currently exploring a series of reforms to the transfer market. While its white paper suggests a cap of six to eight players to be loaned out, i understands there is growing support at world football’s governing body for a tighter limit, of three or four, but an exemption for all homegrown players under the age of 21.

It is believed that this would simultaneously prevent clubs from amassing a surfeit of talent in the prime of their careers and reward teams who develop academy players.

What it means for Chelsea and Manchester City

For clubs like Chelsea – who currently have 40 players out on loan – and Manchester City – who have 28 – the rule would force them to downsize their squads dramatically.

Such a significant change to the loan system would have to be phased in over a transition period of around three years, believes Darren Bailey, a consultant to Charles Russell Speechlys’ sports group.

The Premier League is believed to be considering its stance on the proposal – and the broader transfer reforms being discussed by Fifa – and has no firm view at this stage.
Fifa initiated a comprehensive review of the transfer system last year, aimed at making it work more effectively, improving competitive balance and reducing money seeped out of the game to agents.

The Task Force Transfer System established by Fifa has representatives including the European Club Association, which speaks for the interests of the biggest European clubs, as well as the players’ union FIFPro and national associations.

The Task Force Transfer System “is currently assessing potential changes to the system in several key areas, including, among others, the regulations on intermediaries, solidarity payments to training clubs, streamlining of transfer payments, protection of minors, loans, squad sizes and transfer windows,” said a Fifa spokesperson. “Discussions are ongoing on all those matters and no decision has been taken at this stage.”