EPL: Clubs vote for five-year contract limit for players

Premier League shareholders on Tuesday, voted to limit the length of player contracts to a maximum of five years.

Clubs have been known to offer longer deals, in a bid to spread the cost of transfers over several years.

This method allows the club to operate within the Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations.

Chelsea are the most synonymous with the practice.

However, clubs have voted on the change at a shareholders’ meeting, but the measure will not be backdated to alter player contracts that have already been signed.

“Premier League Shareholders today agreed to amend the rule on amortisation of player registration costs to bring in line with UEFA’s regulations,” the league said in a statement on Tuesday.

“Going forward, a five-year maximum will apply to all new or extended player contracts.”