Camarda, what does the regulation say about transfers for minors

Behind Camarda’s sixteen years there is an unexplored world. A thread that holds together FIFA, the FIGC, the transfers of minor players abroad, the Premier League and above all Kendry Paez, the Ecuadorian talent harpooned by Chelsea for twenty million and left on loan to Independiente del Valle, in the shadow of Pichincha volcano. He will remain there until 2025, when he becomes of age. Only then will he be free to fly to London.

Brexit has an impact

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To understand something more about Camarda’s possible transfer abroad, start here. Paez, a midfielder of class and quality born in 2007, is the youngest debutant in the history of Ecuador. Chelsea made him official in 2023, but he will have to wait another year before letting him play with his new teammates. In fact, after Brexit, everything changed: underage footballers cannot move to the Premier League. The times of Macheda, signed by Manchester United at 16, and Cesc Fabregas, seduced by Wenger’s Arsenal at the same age as the Roman striker, are over. Another emblematic case is that of Claudio Echeverri, a River playmaker purchased from City and left on loan in Argentina until 2024. He will arrive in Manchester at 18 years old. We are talking about an already professional footballer, but the substance does not change: Camarda, if a Premier team were to offer him a contract, could only move in 2026. This is the situation in the event of a transfer to England. Elsewhere, it would be simpler.

young as a series

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Among the teams interested in Abate’s striker there is also Borussia Dortmund, which has always been attentive to young talents. One of the most important departments of its scouting network, for example, is aimed at identifying those players considered “top level”, i.e. already in the first team. So they bought Julien Duranville, who arrived from Anderlecht in 2023 for eight million. He had only played about ten professional games. The Rossoneri striker is in the sights. Camarda currently has a “series junior” contract. As stated on the FIGC website, it is “a constraint designed to allow the club to train the players and prepare them for use in the championships played by the club itself”. The agreement can also last until the age of 19. Camarda boasts two professional appearances against Fiorentina and Frosinone. He is the youngest debutant in the history of Italian football (15 years and 11 months). If he had collected another eight – as per the regulations – he would have had the right to obtain the professional qualification. And therefore of a contract. Milan, obviously, don’t want to let him slip away.

foreign or not foreign

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In short, the Camarda issue is thornier than it seems. At the moment, a move to England at 16 is technically impossible. City, Chelsea, Arsenal and any other English team, from the Premier League to League Two, should sign him up and then leave him in Italy until he comes of age. Simpler, in case, another destination within the European Union. Article 19 of “FIFA Regulations on Status and Transfer of Players” attributes five exceptions to the transfer of a minor abroad. The first: the footballer’s parents move for a reason not related to football. The second: the transfer takes place within the European Union and the player is over 16 years old. The third: the player lives no more than 50 kilometers from the border and the club is located no further than 50 kilometers from the border. And finally: the footballer has left his country for humanitarian reasons or is moving to follow a student exchange programme. Finally, there is a further exception called the “5-year rule”, for the application of which the foreign minor footballer must have lived continuously for at least five years in the country in which he intends to be registered. Completely different from Brexit. Points to keep in mind.