Premier League clubs vote against banning loan moves between related parties in January

Premier League clubs have voted against expediting a ban on loan moves for players transferring into England’s top flight between associated clubs during the January transfer window, as reported by The Athletic. The proposal aimed to uphold the competition’s integrity and allow time to find a more permanent solution.

The vote took place at The Churchill Hotel in Portman Square, London and required at least a two-thirds majority (14 clubs) for the amended regulation to pass. While 13 clubs were in favor of the proposal, it fell short of the required threshold, leaving the current rules unchanged.

Currently, there are no restrictions on Premier League players being sold and subsequently loaned or permanently moved back to the division with a team under the same ownership, as long as the fair market value is considered.

Speculation had risen about Ruben Neves making a loan move from Al Hilal to Newcastle United in January, but reports indicate that this is not expected to occur regardless of the vote’s outcome.

The proposal was not targeted specifically at impeding Newcastle’s acquisition of Neves, but was part of the broader conversation about related-party transactions, including matters like front-of-shirt sponsorship.

The Premier League defines a related party as one having “material influence over the club or (being) an entity in the same group of companies as the club”. This encompasses several Premier League sides, including Newcastle, Al Hilal, Manchester City, and Chelsea.

Additionally, fresh details regarding how Newcastle’s takeover was approved by the Premier League were revealed via government emails, as reported by The Athletic.

Premier League clubs will soon return to action following the final international break of the year.

(Photo: Nikhil Patil/Getty Images)

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Michael Johnson

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