Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham – as well as every other club in the Premier League and EFL – will be significantly impacted by the latest rule change which The FA have agreed with the UK Government. The summer transfer window is expected to be one of the busiest to date, and now English sides have been granted greater freedom in their search for new players.
The FA have reached an agreement with the Home Office to allow the points-based system to be ignored for up to four signings who do not meet the international visa system requirements. Previously, foreign players required a certain number of governing body endorsement points to secure a permit that allows them to play in the Premier League.
Now, each club in the Premier League and the Championship will have four slots to bypass this rule, while those in League One and League Two are allowed just two signings which don't meet the points criteria. The Blues had previously been affected by this rule, with Andrey Santos missing out on a permit by just one point after joining from Vasco da Gama in the summer.
