Newcastle United could be set to sign more players from outside Europe following a decision by the Football Association (FA) to allow Premier League and Sky Bet Championship clubs to sign up to four overseas players per season who don’t meet the current points requirements of the international visa system. The changes come as a result of Brexit, which saw Home Office rules regarding the signing of European-based players becoming stricter and based on criteria such as international experience and top-flight appearances. However, the FA has created a new football solution that will come into effect in the summer transfer window, providing additional access to exceptional international talent that falls outside the current Governing Body Endorsement criteria.
The move will be welcome news to Newcastle United, who can now replicate the signing of Yankuba Minteh with greater ease. The club’s Head of Recruitment, Dan Ashworth, previously highlighted in January that going down the development route was an option they were looking at. Ashworth said that the club was looking for those sorts of players as well to add to the depth of talent we have at the club. The move is part of the FA’s work to improve the pathway for talented English youngsters, and the effects of the changes to the GBE system and the improvements to the pathway will be kept under review. If successful, it is possible the number of overseas players a club can sign who don’t meet the regular GBE criteria could increase.
