Can a player sign a pro contract before he's 17?

Jude Bellingham, the Birmingham lad who's having a great first season aged 16, hasn't, apparently, signed a pro contract.

And yet Newton Heath were reportedly making large bids for him. Bit confused.

Many thanks.

UTC



22/01/20 Manchester United 0 Burnley 2 (Wood, Rodriguez).

Yes there is, you can't sign a professional contract before your 17th birthday.

If however he is offered a pro contract by Birmingham and rejects it then Birmingham would be due compensation which, if not agreed between the two clubs would then be set by the Professional Football Compensation Committee

So if he “signs” for ManU and then regrets it can he then leave before his 17th birthday?

Tricky Trevor wrote: ↑

Mon Feb 03, 2020 4:22 pm

So if he “signs” for ManU and then regrets it can he then leave before his 17th birthday?

Now that's thinking outside the box ! Nice one.

Cheers Holdo.

Unfortunately, Birmingham wouldn't get ¨£25m from the PFCC. He's a local lad and will be 17 on 29 June so hopefully the vultures won't get to him.

No problem,

Jadon Sancho is an example of a player moving between clubs before signing a pro contract ...

'Sancho joined Watford at the age of seven.[11] Due to issues with commuting across London to the club's academy, he moved into accommodation provided by Watford and began attending their partner school Harefield Academy as a boarder, aged 11.

At the age of 14, he moved to Manchester City in March 2015 for an initial fee of £66,000 under the EPPP, potentially rising to £500,000 with add ons'

source: Wikipedia

Tricky Trevor wrote: ↑

Mon Feb 03, 2020 4:22 pm

So if he “signs” for ManU and then regrets it can he then leave before his 17th birthday?

He can't sign a professional contract until he's 17 but clubs have younger players tied down to scholarship deals and the like.