Do footballers get a share of their own transfer fee?

The new rule

Article 21bis of FIFA's Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players, in the edition in force from 1 January 2027, says clubs and players are free to agree a player's share in his own transfer fee. For one group of players it is mandatory.

• It applies to permanent international transfers.
• It applies to players earning less than EUR 150,000 a year in fixed pay at the selling club in the season of the move.
• The selling club pays the player 5 per cent of the total fixed fee it actually receives, directly.
• If the fee is paid in instalments, the player's share is paid pro rata as each instalment arrives.
• The share is subject to tax and social security.

How much can be waived

A player can give up part of his share, but only the part above the higher of his fixed pay for the last year of his contract and 2.5 per cent of the fixed fee. A waiver that goes further is disregarded.

When it does not apply

There is no entitlement where national law, domestic rules in force when the regulations were adopted, or a collective agreement prohibits it or already provides something similar. Loans and moves within one country are not covered by the mandatory rule.

What it means

Most moves carry no fee, so most players will never see it. But for a player below the top tier who is sold abroad, 5 per cent of the fee can be a meaningful sum, and it is worth knowing it is owed.