A Premier League player contract must be signed by the player, by his parent if he is under 18, and by an authorised signatory for the club. A copy then has to reach the board within five days of execution.
Who must sign the contract
The standard signing route has three parts: the player signs, the club signs through an authorised signatory, and a parent also signs if the player is under 18. For a minor, that parental signature is part of a complete execution.
A different method can be used only if the board has approved it in advance. Without prior approval, the contract needs to follow the usual signing requirements.
What the club sends, to whom, and by when
Here is the filing timetable.
| Document | Goes to | When |
|---|---|---|
| A copy of the player's contract | the board | within five days of it being executed |
| A completed Schedule 3 to Form 11 or 12 | the board | with the copy of the contract |
| A copy of a notice ending a contract, or fining or suspending a player | the league and The Football Association | without delay |
| Notice that the two sides have agreed to end a contract early | The Football Association and the board | at once |
| A copy of the agreement recording that termination | the board | within five days of it coming into full force and effect |
What changes when a contract ends early
An early ending brings extra reporting steps. If either the club or the player serves notice to end the contract, a copy of that notice has to go to the league and The Football Association without delay.
If the contract ends by agreement, both The Football Association and the board must be told at once. The board must also receive a copy of the agreement recording the termination within five days after that agreement comes into full force and effect. If the player is under 18, a parent must agree to that early ending as well.
Can the terms be changed later?
A club and a contract player can agree changes to the contract terms at any time, with one carve-out: paragraph 7 of Schedule 2 to Form 12. Where the board has permitted an amendment, a copy of that amendment also has to be sent in.
The key point is that changing terms and filing documents are separate steps. Even when both sides are free to agree a variation, the club still has to deal with the filing requirement for the permitted amendment.
FAQ
Does a parent have to sign for a young Premier League player?
Yes. If the player is under 18, the contract needs the parent's signature alongside the player's and that of the club's authorised signatory.
The same age point matters if the contract is ended early by agreement. A parent must agree to that termination too.
How long does a club have to file a player contract?
A copy of the contract must reach the board within five days of execution. The completed Schedule 3 to Form 11 or 12 goes at the same time.
The separate five-day period for an agreed early termination runs from the point when the termination agreement comes into full force and effect.
What has to be reported if the contract ends before expiry?
That depends on how it ends. A notice ending the contract, whether given by the club or the player, must be copied to the league and The Football Association without delay.
If both sides agree to end it early, The Football Association and the board must be told at once, and the board then needs a copy of the termination agreement within five days after it takes full effect.
Can a club use another signing method instead of the usual one?
Yes, but only with advance approval from the board. The alternative is not available just because the club and player want to use it.
That approval has to come first. If it has not been given in advance, the contract should be executed through the standard signing route.