Premier League academy players are told in writing on a league form by the third Saturday in May, and a boy told his registration is ending can look for another academy as soon as that notice arrives.
What the written notice covers
Here is what each age group is told, and by when.
| Age group | What the notice says | By when |
|---|---|---|
| U9 to U11 | Whether the club will keep or end his registration | The third Saturday in May |
| U12 and U14 | Whether the club will keep his registration for the next two seasons | The third Saturday in May |
| U16 with no scholarship offer | Free to seek a place at another academy | 31 December |
The message has to be given or sent on a league form. By the same May deadline, each club also sends the board a list of the academy players whose registrations it holds, marking which players it keeps, which it intends to keep and which it intends to end.
Players who have been offered and have accepted a scholarship agreement do not go through this end-of-season route. They are listed separately.
How the younger and older groups differ
For U9 to U11, the form tells the boy whether the club intends to keep or end his registration from the first Saturday in June. For U12 and U14, the form covers a longer period, because it tells him whether the club intends to keep his registration for the next two seasons or to end it from the first Saturday in June.
When the decision takes effect and what the player can do
If the notice says his registration is being ended, the change takes effect from the first Saturday in June. He does not have to wait for that date to start looking elsewhere, because he is free from the moment he gets the notice to seek a place at the academy of any other club.
If the club intends to keep him, he can still move on after the first Saturday in June, but only if he has ended his registration by then through the required written steps. He must give written notice to both his club and the board by that date, and he must have the board's written acknowledgement.
The separate position for U16 without a scholarship offer
A U16 player has a separate route if there is no scholarship offer. If he has had no offer by 31 December, or has already been told in writing that no offer is coming, he is free to seek a place at any other club's academy.
In that situation, the club holding his registration is not entitled to compensation from the club that registers him next. That exception does not apply if he stays in full time education beyond his U16 year.
FAQ
When do Premier League academies tell players if they are being released?
For the end-of-season process covering U9 to U14, the deadline is the third Saturday in May. The answer must come on a league form that is given or sent to the player.
What happens when an academy releases a boy?
The notice means his registration will end from the first Saturday in June. He is free straight away, once he has that notice, to look for a place at another club's academy.
Can an academy player leave even if the club wants to keep him?
Yes, but he has to complete the written process first. He must send written notice ending his registration to the club and the board by the first Saturday in June, and he also needs the board's written acknowledgement before looking elsewhere after that date.
What happens if there is no scholarship offer at U16?
If there is no offer by 31 December, or the player has been told in writing that no offer will be made, he can seek a place at another academy. If another club registers him next, the old club cannot claim compensation, unless he remains in full time education beyond his U16 year.