Since 2007 the maximum value of a fee that could be paid for the transfer of a player under a player contract and transferring domestically has been capped to 50 per cent of the total salary owing to the player under their existing player contract.
The removal of the cap on transfer fees for contracted players follows a lengthy consultation period with stakeholders across the game after the release of Football Australia’s Domestic Transfer System Transformation White Paper in January 2021 and means that clubs outside the A-Leagues will be able to negotiate a fee for the transfer of a player on a contract, with free market forces determining the value of the transfer.
Football Australia Chief Executive Officer, James Johnson, said the development signifies a solid step forward in Football Australia’s plan to implement a modern and progressive Domestic Transfer System for Australian football, and will provide economic, sporting, and transparency benefits for the sport domestically.
“The Australian football ecosystem has been disconnected and misaligned, both domestically and with global football,” Johnson said. “Conflicting regulations domestically have also contributed to Australian football’s current player development challenges and the stagnation of the Australian football economy, despite the significant growth of the global football transfer market over the past decade.”
“The removal of the transfer fee cap aligns Australian football with global practice where the international transfer market is usually worth $7 to $10 billion and players are transferred regularly during the transfer windows. Globally, it is common practice that a player can be signed by a club for up to five years and if they are transferred before their contract expires, the new club must pay a compensation to the previous club in line with market rates. This is known as a transfer fee.
“What we have seen because of the transfer fee cap being in place domestically in Australia is the opposite to what we see in global football because domestically, clubs have not been incentivised by the prospect of a potential transfer fee to sign players on longer term professional contracts. The removal of the transfer fee cap, along with the introduction of aligned domestic transfer windows via our Domestic Match Calendars, now means that fees can be paid for the transfer of a professional player during a transfer window who is under contract. The change ensures clubs outside the A-Leagues have a clearer and better opportunity to be remunerated and recognised for their capacity to develop great players.
“We believe this update will also generate positive and forward-thinking conversations in the Australian football market, as clubs consider ways to optimise their operations and take advantage of the new regulation. In parallel, Football Australia must play its role in educating ambitious clubs and the football community of the new regulation, so that clubs of all shapes and sizes understand how to operate effectively in this new landscape.
“We recognise that this change is not a silver bullet, and it should be considered alongside the other initiatives we have introduced into Australian football, such as FIFA-aligned transfer windows in a Domestic Match Calendar and club licensing. This is the latest step in what will be an ongoing journey of transformation of Australian football,” Johnson concluded.
Discussions regarding additional Domestic Transfer System reform within the whole of game are ongoing, with numerous stakeholders within the sport being consulted regarding matters related to the introduction of transfer fees between A-Leagues clubs, loan regulations, training compensation, home grown player rules and other reforms. It is envisaged that these discussions will continue to progress throughout 2022, with further announcements regarding Australia’s Domestic Transfer System to be made in due course.
The evolution and growth of an integrated and thriving football ecosystem driven by a modern Domestic Transfer System is Principle III in Football Australia’s XI Principles for the future of Australian Football. Over the past two years, Football Australia has made several developments regarding Principle III, including holding a series of webinars with domestic and international experts to stimulate discussion regarding the topic and releasing the Domestic Transfer System Transformation White Paper in 2021.
