Overseas Players Wanting to Play Professionally in the UK?

Overseas Players Wanting to Play Professionally in the UK?

Published Tuesday 30th of November

Okay, so you have been told, read and heard many times that you are unable to come to England to play professional football. However, you see the likes of Mohammed Salah, Tim Cahill and Park Ji-Sung amongst hundreds of other Non-UK footballers, playing for huge English clubs. So how does this happen!?

UK Football Schools work tirelessly to keep up with the current immigration and footballing laws, so we can advise to the best of our knowledge. 

Firstly, it is true that without the correct papers, you can’t be scouted, or signed by a professional football club in the UK, however there are many different ‘loop holes’ and lengths that football clubs will go to, to sign that perfect player for there club. It really is a mine field! I will make clear that players from within the EU (European Union), will find the laws much less strict due to the ‘freedom of movement’ law which was put in place within the EU in 2004, meaning players from many European countries are eligible to play football in the UK (this may change when the UK leave the EU following ‘Brexit.’) Also, those with parents or grandparents who were born in the EU, are likely to be eligible for an EU passport. 


I will begin with the youngsters, as laws change when a player becomes older. In England, if you are aged under 16 years old, you must live within a certain time frame of a football club to be able to sign and represent that clubs academy team. The current FA law is that;

•    Under 12’s must live within 1 hour (60 minutes) of the football club
•    Under 16’s must live within 1 hour and a half (90 minutes) of the football club

This means for overseas players, it is extremely difficult to be signed for a professional club, so unless you are exceptional (at a level where you are not only representing your country at youth international level but are one of the best in your nation), it is next to impossible. However, players can come to the UK on different visas, live here, be scouted and train for a football clubs academy (but not signed!). The most popular visas we have come across are either a ‘Tier 4 Child’ visa or a ‘Tier 2 Dependent’ visa. Here is a little about them both;

•    Tier 4 Child Visa – staying on youngsters, this visa is granted to those up to 17 years old and is a study visa. This visa is granted for those coming to the UK to board in a Independent School (not a state funded school), amongst other eligibility requirements, such as being able to demonstrate enough money to cover course fees and living costs. 
•    Tier 2 Dependent Visa – your parent/s have been granted a Tier 2 Visa in the UK and the child is coming as a dependent. A Tier 2 visa is granted to adults, who are known as ‘skilled workers’ and are coming to the UK to work for a company who will (and can) sponsor the visa. For example, a footballer’s children. 


Again, young footballers can’t sign for professional football clubs on these visas, and those training within professional football academies are there because the clubs know that one day, they may be eligible to sign them (for example, after a number of years, people who have lived in the UK can become citizens). 

For those over 18 years old, the scenarios and laws change. The majority of footballers you see at the highest level are able to have visa’s granted because they have represented their country at international level, for a certain period of time. For example, Mohammed Salah has represented Egypt at International Level for a number of years. The law stipulates that to be granted this visa, you need the following to apply;

•    you’re an elite sportsperson, who’s recognised by your sport’s governing body as being at the highest level of your profession internationally
•    your sport’s governing body is endorsing your application
•    your employment will develop your sport in the UK at the highest level

However, for the vast majority of players who aren’t fortunate enough to represent their country at International Level, we have heard several different ways that you will be interested to read; 
•    Carlos Vela - a famous case worth googling. Arsenal loaned him out for several years into Europe so he would become good enough to represent Mexico. 
•    Players sign for clubs in Europe with less strict immigration laws. They then play here for a number of seasons allowing them to become residents of the country and becoming EU nationals, therefore eligible to sign in the UK. 
•    Adoption - one young man who was at a school we work with last year signed for a Premier League club. His Mum's sister who had married an English man adopted him, giving him a UK passport!
•    Marry a UK citizen!

To summarise, from what we hear and understand, footballers in many countries around the world aren’t able to experience the elite coaching, facilities, analysis, psychology, physiology etc to reach the highest levels required to become professional. By coming to the UK, where football is taken very seriously, you have that chance to receive all of this and fulfil your potential. By achieving this potential, you may well get to a level where you are able to represent your country or go into professional leagues in Europe or at home, which in turn opens doors to the UK professional game. 

UK Football schools can recommend the very best football and education programmes, the best boarding schools for football in the UK and offer free football advice for those who are serious about one day, possibly playing at Old Trafford, Anfield or The Emirates! 

At the very least, you would be able to look back in the future and know you did everything you could. 

Tags

Football Schools Football Boarding Schools Football Specialist Schools Soccer Boarding Schools Uk Soccer Academies Uk Boarding Schools Football Academies Best Boarding Schools For Football Uk Uk Football Schools Best Boarding Schools For Football Best Boarding Schools In Uk Good Football Schools Soccer Schools In Europe Soccer Boarding Schools In Uk Best Soccer Academies In England Soccer Academy In England Top Boarding Schools Uk English Schools Football Football Colleges In England Football In Schools Best Schools For Football Football Academy Uk Uk Football Boarding Schools Uk Soccer Schools Uk International Soccer Schools Summer Football Camps Ucas Ucas Clearing Best Uk Football University Best Soccer University In England Top English Football Universities Uk Football Universities Football Uk School Football Programmes University Football Football Academy In Uk Best Schools In England Football Programme Boarding Schools Spanish Soccer Academy Spanish Soccer School Private Spanish Football Academy European Football Academy Soccer Academy Schools International Student Uk Soccer Boarding Schools In England Football Academy Boarding Schools Football Colleges In London Boarding Football Academy International Soccer Academy In England Best Soccer Schools Uk Top Private Schools In England Boarding School Uk Football In England Pathway Into Football Best Soccer Schools In England Uk Soccer Schools Soccer Schools In England Guardianship For Students Education Uk Football Training Uk Football Trials Football Academies In The Uk Academics Football Academy In The Uk Soccer Schools In The Uk Best Football Universities In The Uk Academy Development Exposure Football Academy In Spain Gap Year Football School In Spain Football Academy In Europe For International Students Top Independent Schools In England Boarding Schools In Europe Top Football Boarding Schools In England International Boarding Schools Best Football Academies International Football Academies University Football Courses Spanish Football School Private Football Academy In Spain Boarding Football Academy In Spain Private Football Academy Uk Football Players Spanish Soccer Schools Spanish Football Academy Football Academy In Europe Best Boarding Schools In England Top Private School In The Uk Uk's Best Football Boarding Schools Top Private Boarding Schools Uk Football Boarding School In England Best Soccer Universities In England Play Soccer Overseas Best Soccer Schools In The World. Top Private Football Academy In Europe Football Boarding School In Spain Euro Pro Football Academy Uk Guardianship Football Guardianship Uk Football Guardianship Private Boarding School Guardianship Best Football Boarding Schools Best Football Boarding Schools In England School Rankings Top Boarding Schools Top Boarding Schools In England Ofsted Reports Academic Improvement Elite Private Football Academy Best Spanish Football Academy Graduating High School Youth Professional Clubs Potential Is Uk Football Trials Worth It? Euro 2020 England Opportunity Excellent Football Programme Youth Development Progression Uk Coaching System Young Footballers Top Private Boarding Schools Best Facilities Football Opportunities Football Development Best Boarding Schools For Uk Football Training And Education Professional Footballer Professional Football Academy In Uk Professional Football Academies England Football Colleges Good Colleges In England University Soccer Universities Degree Players Uk Student Guardianship Guardianship For Students In The Uk Guardianship For Boarding Students Uk Uk Guardians Boarding Schools In London Boarding Schools Top Uk Soccer University English Football Universities Top English Soccer University Good Soccer Universities In England Best Football Universities In Uk Best Football Schools Best English Boarding Schools Football Academies In England Girls Football In England Girls Football Schools Uk Good Football Schools For Girls Football Boarding Schools In Europe Guardianship Best European Football Academy Best Soccer Academy Europe Europe's Best Football Academies Soccer In England Soccer Prep Schools Sports Boarding Schools Uk International Soccer School Soccer Academy Europe Top 100 Boarding Schools How To Judge A Uk Boarding School What Do People Look For When Choosing A Uk Boarding School Football Boarding Schools In England English Football Schools Best Soccer School In England Immigration Laws Overseas Overseas Players Facilities Coaching Competitive Football Programme Boarding Schools Uk International Student Uk Soccer Boarding Schools In England Prep Schools In England Facts And Figures Of Boarding Schools In England Top Private Schools In The Uk Top Boarding Schools In The Uk Success Story Us Scholarship National News Private Academy In Spain Soccer School In Spain Best Private Boarding School For Football In England Football College In England Best Boarding Football Academy Football Academies In Europe For International Students Best Private High Schools In Europe For Football Football School In England Top Uk Football Schools For Football England's Top Universities How Do Boarding Schools In The Uk Work What's To Be Expected In Uk Private Boarding Schools Girls Football In Uk Best Boarding Schools For Girls Football Football Academies For Girls Private Boarding School Football Pathway Best Football Boarding Schools In The Uk Football Schools In England Football Schools In The Uk Europe's Best Football Academy National Team Call Up Making The Move Football Academies Schools Uk Grassroots Football In The Uk Academies In Boarding Schools Take Your Chances European Academy Best Football Academy In Europe Private Football Academies Europe Soccer European Football Private Education Private Boarding School Boarding School Football Pathway Ups And Downs Of Football England Or Ireland? Benefits Of Private School Independent Boarding Schools European Academies Football Academies In Europe Best Football Academies In Europe Schools Football Uk Covid19 Situation In Private Schools Private Education And Covid19 Football Pathways Best Football Colleges Residential Football Academies Top European Football Academies Top Spanish Football Academy Elite Football Academy In Spain Top Football Universities In The Uk Football Universities In England Sporting Universities In The Uk Elite Football Academies Best Football School In England Uk's Best Boarding Schools For Football Women's Football In The Uk Girls Football Pathways Boarding School Football Pathways For Girls Independent Boarding Schools For Girls Europe Soccer Schools Private Football Academys Boarding Schools Football Uk Uk Football School Football Academy Boarding Schools In England Best English Football Boarding Schools Top Football School In England International Players Playing Overseas Best Football Programmes In The Uk Top Football Boarding Schools For International Players Top Football Boarding Schools In The Uk Best Boarding Schools In The Uk What Is The Best Boarding School In The Uk Private Boarding Schools For Football Top Football Academy Boarding Schools In England Top Private Schools In England For Football Football Gap Year Best Soccer Schools In Europe Top Football Boarding School In Uk Boarding School Football Pro Club Trials World Cup Qualifier Call Up