Wolverhampton Wanderers first aired their concerns about the impact of Brexit in October 2019.
Kevin Thelwell, Wolves’ sporting director at the time, admitted they were in the dark like the rest of the country as the Government negotiated its exit with the European Union.
“It makes it hugely problematic for clubs,” he said. “We must just sit tight and see how it plays out.”
But now The FA has revealed its new rules, which will come into force once the UK leaves the EU on December 31, just how problematic will it be for Wolves?
What changes will come in?
There’s three big changes that will affect Wolves. The first of which is that clubs can no longer sign EU-based players freely.
EU nationals will now be treated like all other overseas players and will be required to gain a work permit to play in the Premier League. The FA will award Governing Body Endorsements (GBE) to players based on the following criteria:
• Senior and youth international appearances
• Quality of the selling club, based on the league they are in, league position and progression in continental competition
• Club appearances, based on domestic league and continental competition minutes
Additionally, Premier League clubs will no longer be able to sign overseas youngsters at will. A cap on under-21 recruits from abroad will be introduced, meaning Wolves will only be able to sign six per season.
They won't be allowed to sign any non EU nationals before they have turned 18 either in a move which is designed to increase opportunities for British talents.
What does it mean for Wolves?
With regards to first team signings, it should have very little impact. The vast majority of the European players Wolves have signed over the last few years meet most, if not all, of the criteria listed above.
Wolves rarely shop outside of Europe's power nations and leagues, which should mean they have very little trouble obtaining GBEs for future recruits.
Nuno Espirito Santo's first team is made up of 22 players and 19 of them have represented their country at senior or youth level in the past two years. In terms of first team transfers, the new rules shouldn't make a great deal of difference.
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It's further down the ranks at Compton Park where these changes become interesting. Wolves have bolstered their academy with a series of signings from around Europe over the last three years.
Their strategy at under-23 level won't be greatly affected by the limit of six under-21 signings per season. However, the news that Premier League clubs can no longer just sign under-18s as they please won't have gone down well.
A number of the club's most promising youngsters - Andreas Sondergaard, Christian Marques and Theo Corbeanu to name just a few - joined Wolves before they turned 18. That will no longer be permitted under the new rules.
