The summer 2025 transfer window has now slammed shut. Premier League clubs have spent a total in excess of £3 billion on transfers (according to Transfermrkt .co.uk) on a total of 155 transfers, 98 of which involved a player transferring to an English club from abroad. International football transfers can move extremely quickly, often with only a matter of days between initial discussions and the player formally putting pen to paper to finalise the transfer. The player and their agent or representatives will understandably be most concerned with wrapping up the deal and swiftly relocating the player so they can start settling in at their new club. However, there are many other legal issues and considerations to bear in mind.
Tax and wealth structuring
Footballers moving to the UK must carefully consider tax planning and wealth management, particularly following the abolition of the long-standing 'non-dom' tax regime in April 2025. Players should focus on structuring their wealth effectively, accounting for asset protection and long-term financial goals, while ensuring adherence to global tax laws.
- Wealth structuring: careers in football are short but can generate significant wealth within a condensed timeframe. Players are therefore well advised to consider their long-term financial objectives while at the height of their earning power. Players may prioritise safeguarding and preserving their assets for future generations, protecting against changing personal circumstances or potential divorce risk, while also ensuring tax efficiency and compliance in other relevant jurisdictions. Depending on the needs of the family and the nature of their assets, family wealth holding structures may range from simple contractual arrangements to more complex trust or corporate structures.
- Tax advice: with ever-increasing player turnover, players joining clubs in England from overseas will not necessarily do so with the expectation of remaining in England forever – and players' tax and estate planning decisions should reflect that. Following the abolition of the previous 'non-dom' regime (and the generous reliefs it provided), players must now carefully manage their UK tax exposure during their time here and take advantage of relief offered by the new residence-based system, where possible. It is also important to consider the interaction of UK law with the tax regime of the player's nationality and/or the country where their previous club(s) was, so as to avoid any unintended foreign tax charges.
- Succession planning: it is not uncommon for heirs to fight over how inherited wealth should be managed and spent – and wealth generated in the world of professional sport can present particular challenges (such as multi-jurisdictional asset-bases, image rights, and confidentiality concerns). Families that agree how to manage their wealth, both now and for future generations, are far more likely to preserve their wealth and their business interests. As a minimum, we strongly recommend players put in place UK Wills to ensure that, if the worst were to happen, any assets devolving under the law of England and Wales would pass in accordance with their wishes and in a tax efficient manner to provide the most benefit to loved ones. Beyond that, we recommend that players consider more comprehensive succession plans, possibly implementing a form of family charter or constitution to set out rules and guidelines to govern family members' and future generations' entitlement to the family wealth.
Immigration
Before signing on the dotted line, it is key to ensure that the footballer has the legal right to come to the UK and play here and that, if appropriate, their family can come with them too. The permission must be in place before the player enters the UK and can take several weeks to obtain. There are various routes open to players depending on their background and nationalities and this is a fast moving landscape. As a lot of visa types expressly prevent the holder from working as a professional sportsperson or coach it is important to pick the correct route. Some of the more common ones are:
- International Sportsperson visa: this will be the main route. To be eligible the player must be an elite sportsperson or qualified coach, internationally established, and the role must develop their sport in the UK at the highest level. The player must be sponsored by a club with a sponsor licence (which most leading clubs will hold). Applicants must meet an English test and demonstrate they or their club can financially support themselves. The visa can be issued for up to three years at a time.
- EUSS: for EU nationals who have spent time in the UK historically they may have a pre settled or settled status which allows them to live and play in the UK. Or their partner may hold this status meaning they could apply to enter the UK as a dependant.
- Family members: spouses, long term partner and children under 18 can normally enter the UK as dependants of the player. This will allow them to live, work or study in the UK.
- Sports Visit Visas: finally, for shorter visits of up to 30 days, the sports visit visa may be an option. This allows the holder to take part in a sports tournament or sports event as an individual or part of a team, make personal appearances and take part in promotional activities, or take part in trials or training. The visit visa is subject to quite specific conditions so, as with all these areas, advice should be taken before using this route.
Property
Relocation to the UK is an exciting prospect for any international sportsperson. With it comes not only a change in playing environment but also a host of considerations to ensure a smooth transition both professionally and personally. Here are some of the key property considerations for players moving to the UK.
- Renting vs buying: the choice is significant, with each option having pros and cons. Renting offers flexibility and is ideal for short-term stays and familiarising yourself with an area before committing to buying, with lower (if any) stamp duty land tax. Buying can provide stability and a long-term investment in the shape of an asset players can sell on in the future. This might be more suitable if planning a longer stay or establishing a family residence in the UK.
- Stamp Duty Land Tax: you will likely be liable to pay stamp duty land tax if you buy but may also need to pay if the rent is high enough. There has been a myriad of legislative changes over the past decade, including most recently the increase in the higher rate payable for additional properties from 3% to 5% and the introduction of an overseas buyer surcharge of 2%. Individuals can obtain refunds for these additional rates in certain circumstances (for example, of the overseas buyer surcharge if you spend at least 183 days in the UK during the continuous 365-day period following completion of your property purchase).
- Privacy and security: seek properties that offer enhanced privacy and security features like gated entries or advanced home security systems. These considerations are paramount for preserving your personal space away from public attention while ensuring you feel secure in your new environment.Sometimes information relating to property, such as photographs of the interior and other materials contained in brochures may be available online (eg on an estate agent's website).The availability of such photos not only poses a privacy risk, but it can also cause security concerns.To control the use of photos, plans and marketing materials relating to the property, it is advisable that you obtain an assignment of the copyright in all these materials, prior to concluding any freehold purchase or leasehold agreement.Owning the copyright in these materials would mean that copyright law can be used to have photos, plans or other marketing materials removed from the internet.
- Type of ownership: consult legal professionals to advise you on the type of ownership. Freehold ownership is more common with houses and essentially means owning the property outright, including the property, the ground and subsoil beneath it and airspace above it. Leasehold, on the other hand, is how apartments are usually owned. You will often only own the internal envelope of the property (ie up to the ceilings, down to the floor), whereas the landlord will own the structure and common parts such as stairs and hallways. The landlord will want to retain a high level of control, meaning that you will usually need to obtain their permission to things such as altering the apartment.
- Assembling a property team: A buying agent can be invaluable when it comes to deciding where to live, using their knowledge of the local market to spot appropriate homes aligned with your needs. A surveyor will then be able to assist in evaluating the physical state of the property, including whether it is structurally sound and if any works are needed. It is prudent to engage your lawyer early in the process prior to securing your property – this allows you the time to consider the structuring of your process, receive advice where required and provides a competitive advantage on sought after properties, by giving selling agents confidence of your seriousness and ability to transact quickly. Having a team in place early on can really make the process smoother.
Reputational and privacy challenges
International footballers moving to England for the first time can encounter a number of reputational and privacy challenges. Taking proactive steps to limit the impact of these challenges is crucial.
- Existing online reputation: footballers sometimes have a pre-existing reputation online and/or their private information may have been previously published without their knowledge. Once transferring to England, a previous reputation (and all information available online) will follow a footballer and may be the basis of media stories or other focus that shapes the narrative around them. Before completing a transfer to an English club and moving to England, a footballer may wish to engage specialists to conduct an online audit of all of the information that is available about them online and is accessible within this jurisdiction. Once a comprehensive audit is carried out, a plan can be devised with the help of PR advisers and specialist media lawyers on how to tackle (eg remove or counter) any negative narratives and/or unwanted private information that is accessible online.
- Social media: social media has become an almost crucial part of the off-field public engagement that a footballer has with his fans. However, the use of social media can amplify mistakes or misstatements, making them public and permanent. When making public statements or posts, cultural differences between England and the footballer's home country need to be borne in mind. Actions or statements can easily be misconstrued and perceived differently where there is a cultural difference and this could lead to negative publicity. To minimise any issues, footballers should change the settings on any personal social media profiles to private and avoid posting more than is necessary. A conversation with a friend or teammate is better had via private channels such as private messages or texts rather than in public comments. Photos are better shared with family or friends via private channels. It should be presumed that anything posted, even in a profile with private settings, can end up being leaked to the media. If a footballer does want to engage with fans through a public social media profile, it is advisable that he engages experts to help to run the profiles and create and post the content on his behalf. This will minimise the risk that posts will cause any negative impact. Social media is unfortunately also a platform where anonymous 'trolls' may harass footballers for no apparent reason. The team running a footballers' public social media account should keep a record of all abusive and/or threatening messages received by individuals. If there is a persistent course of conduct seek advice from lawyers about action that might be taken against the perpetrators.
- Media attention: footballers often find themselves under considerable media scrutiny, with both their on-field performances and off-field lives being of interest to the public and press. If the media puts allegations to a footballer before publication, the footballer should consider the allegations carefully, consider if they are false or private and locate all the information that answers questions being asked. It is also crucial that they take urgent legal and/or PR advice before responding, as the media can publish a response. Engaging via media lawyers can also help stop or limit a false story and providing a well-crafted statement can balance a one-sided story.
Unfortunately, once a negative narrative has been created about a footballer, the media often seek to perpetuate that narrative and look for any excuse to do so, and they may sometimes publish without warning. It is important that footballers engage PR advisers and/or specialist media lawyers as soon as they become the focus of negative stories. PR adviser will advise on the best course of action that can be taken to change the narrative. This may sometimes include publishing a statement to counter allegations and set the record straight. Media lawyers can advise on any potential claims or regulatory complaints where the media have stepped over the line.
Given their wealthy status compared to the vast majority of the population, footballers who are in the public eye are also often the target of paparazzi, who are keen to photograph every aspect of a footballer's life with a view to selling those photos to the media. Footballers who are targeted by paparazzi should engage specialist media lawyers who can advise on whether there are any potential claims, such a claim for misuse of private information or harassment.
For further advice following the transfer window please contact a member of our Private Wealth group.
