New FIFA rule comes into force limiting Leeds United summer loan activity as wantaway players given notice — YEP 13/6/24
By Joe Donnohue
A change to FIFA’s international loans quota affecting Leeds
United will come into force on July 1.
Clubs governed by FIFA’s member associations, such as the
Football Association (FA), will be limited to six incoming and six outgoing
international loans during this summer’s transfer window. Domestic moves can be
made as of tomorrow, while international transfers will be permitted and
ratified at the beginning of next month.
Last season, Leeds found themselves at the upper limit of
their outgoing international loans quota, due to the numerous loan release
clauses inserted into players’ contracts in the event of relegation from the
Premier League.
This year, the upper limit has been reduced from seven to
six, as FIFA continue in their bid to curb player hoarding.
FIFA initially introduced the legislation two years ago
permitting clubs to sanction up to eight incoming and eight outgoing
international loans, with that number falling by one each season.
Several players exercised the loan release clauses following
Leeds’ relegation, which led to a stand-off with Colombian winger Luis
Sinisterra who also sought an international loan that could not be sanctioned
due to United’s outgoing international limit having already been met. A
resolution was ultimately found as the 24-year-old joined AFC Bournemouth on an
initial loan on deadline day, but the issue did disrupt the opening portion of
Daniel Farke’s tenure and Leeds’ season as Sinisterra was removed from contention
by the German whilst his future remained unresolved.
Domestic loans - those conducted between teams in the same
country - are exempt from the FIFA ruling, as are those concerning players aged
21-or-under and club-trained players, which is why Sinisterra was allowed to
join the Cherries.
Former loanee Brenden Aaronson, who spent last season with
Union Berlin in Germany, has already committed himself to Leeds for the 2024/25
campaign, despite the assumption amongst supporters the American would again
seek a move away from Elland Road.
This somewhat eases the burden on Leeds with regards to
their international loan limit, as the framework they are required to work
within becomes more stringent.
The futures of Jack Harrison, Rasmus Kristensen, Diego
Llorente, Marc Roca and Max Wöber are as yet undecided, although it is expected
at least some of the aforementioned quintet will remain out on loan for another
season, or be sold altogether.
