Anonymous wrote:Transfer fees apply to players under contract. Solidarity Payments and Training Fees can be earned by clubs even if they never have the player under contract (they earn based on contributing to the players development after the age of 12). So, if a 16 year old academy player signs a ‘homegrown’ contract, NCAA eligibility is lost and transfer fees would apply if they moved to Europe. If that same 16 year old player is in a MLS academy, but doesn’t sign an MLS contact and instead signs with an international club, there are no transfer fees, but the MLS club would receive solidarity payments on any future transfer fees (small percentage of the future transfer fee). And, if they don’t sign any contract, they retain college eligibility.

Thanks for that detailed answer.

I've heard of solidarity payments but they seem far less lucrative than the big transfer fees you hear about between major clubs, or even between minor clubs and major clubs. Someone had mentioned that maybe if the MLS goes 'all in' trying to fund their development academy with transfer fees they may be able to make it free for all players and pay operating costs, but with the loss of college eligibility at stake I think some (but not all) players may balk at signing the formal contract.

What was the thing DCU made their players sign last year (I remember a thread about some kids being forced to sign something after a practice)? Was that related to solidarity fees or was it a more formal contract?

Transfer fees apply to players under contract. Solidarity Payments and Training Fees can be earned by clubs even if they never have the player under contract (they earn based on contributing to the players development after the age of 12). So, if a 16 year old academy player signs a ‘homegrown’ contract, NCAA eligibility is lost and transfer fees would apply if they moved to Europe. If that same 16 year old player is in a MLS academy, but doesn’t sign an MLS contact and instead signs with an international club, there are no transfer fees, but the MLS club would receive solidarity payments on any future transfer fees (small percentage of the future transfer fee). And, if they don’t sign any contract, they retain college eligibility.

Anonymous wrote:I was curious: for a club to get a transfer fee, doesn't a player have to be "under contract" with that club, in essence, a professional? Would something like this negate their ability to play in college one day?

I wonder if the United States opts to head to a system where the 'academy' is funded in large part due to transfer fees (as it is in Europe), would this be at odds with the NCAA's eligibility requirements? I wasn't sure what relationship was needed club<->player and was wondering if anyone has looked into this.

There’s a lot more to it. Use your google machine. Checkout how us soccer blew it with the deandre yedlin case.

Where would these transfer fees come from? US clubs to Europe?

I was curious: for a club to get a transfer fee, doesn't a player have to be "under contract" with that club, in essence, a professional? Would something like this negate their ability to play in college one day?

I wonder if the United States opts to head to a system where the 'academy' is funded in large part due to transfer fees (as it is in Europe), would this be at odds with the NCAA's eligibility requirements? I wasn't sure what relationship was needed club<->player and was wondering if anyone has looked into this.