Premier League Transfers: The Mystery Behind Undisclosed Fees Explained

Question from Andrew, New Forest: Why do some clubs choose not to reveal the transfer fee?

The main reason clubs keep transfer fees secret is to avoid giving rivals insight into their spending habits. If Team A reveals how much they spent, Team B learns how much money might be available for replacements, affecting negotiation tactics and planning. Even though nowadays leaks often happen through agents or insiders, clubs still prefer to keep details under wraps.

In cases involving foreign clubs that are publicly listed companies, like Lyon or Juventus, these clubs must disclose exact figures to their stock market, while Premier League clubs can label deals as undisclosed. This approach seems less effective when one side is transparent, but English clubs often maintain secrecy anyway.

What Defines a Homegrown Player?

A homegrown player is someone who, regardless of nationality, has been registered with any English or Welsh club for at least three full seasons or 36 months before turning 21. For instance, Joao Pedro, Chelsea's Brazilian striker, counts as homegrown because he joined Watford at 18 and stayed long enough.

This rule differs from UEFA’s, which only counts qualifying time between ages 15 and 21. The Premier League starts counting from earlier ages, making their definition broader.

Is Birthplace Important for Homegrown Status?

Mike from Bath points out that Eric Dier was classified as overseas despite being English and playing for England. This is true; the rule focuses on where a player completed their football education, not nationality. Dier did not spend enough years at English clubs before 21 to qualify.

On the other hand, Noni Madueke, who played in the Netherlands between 16 and 20, is homegrown because he spent about seven years in English academies before that.

Daniel from Derby asks about Jeremie Frimpong, born in Amsterdam but homegrown for Liverpool. That’s because Frimpong spent nine years training at Manchester City’s academy before joining Liverpool, meeting the homegrown criteria.

How Do Sell-On Fees Work?

Nick from Brentford wonders how sell-on fees are paid and whether staged payments affect them. Here’s a breakdown:

• Team A sells a player to Team B for £5 million.
• Team B later sells the same player to Team C for £20 million.
• The sell-on fee usually applies only to the profit (£15 million), so if the clause is 10%, Team A receives £1.5 million.
• If Team C pays the £20 million in four instalments, Team B typically pays Team A the £1.5 million in four instalments too.

However, contracts can vary. Sometimes the original agreement may require full payment upfront, or the selling club might negotiate early payment in exchange for a smaller amount.

More Transfer Window Questions Answered

• Rules around player swaps during transfer windows
• Reason behind EFL Cup matches scheduled on weekends
• New financial regulations Premier League clubs must follow
• Changes in Fantasy Premier League for the 2026-27 season