November 21, (THEWILL) – The English Premier League failed in its attempt to ban loan transfers between associated party clubs during the January transfer window. The rule change required support from 14 of the 20 EPL clubs, but was voted down 13-7 at Tuesday’s shareholders’ meeting in London.
The proposed ban was aimed primarily at preventing clubs like Newcastle United, which is owned by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), from loaning players from other PIF-owned clubs. Newcastle had been linked with a potential January loan move for former Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder Ruben Neves, who currently plays for Saudi club Al-Hilal. The ban’s defeat now clears the way for such deals.
In other EPL news, the league was unable to finalise terms for a new £900 million financial package between itself and the English Football League (EFL) clubs. Despite three hours of discussions at Tuesday’s meeting, disagreement remains around imposing new cost control regulations on clubs.
The EPL hopes to have a deal in place before the new independent regulator for English football takes effect. However, with EFL clubs still unsatisfied, confirmation of the financial package, dubbed the “New Deal,” failed to materialise during voting on Tuesday.
Manchester City and other clubs affiliated through ownership groups can now also loan players more freely during the January window following the failed ban attempt. With the winter transfer market just weeks away, power remains in the hands of EPL clubs to shape squad additions as they deem fit.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
