FIFA Distributes $125 Million in Transfer Payments

FIFA has confirmed that soccer clubs worldwide have received $125 million from overdue transfer payments related to former players, with an additional backlog of nearly $200 million still outstanding. The funds are being distributed to over 5,000 professional and grassroots clubs through the FIFA Clearing House, which aims to enhance transparency in the transfer market and ensure smaller clubs receive their rightful payments. Notably, the system allows clubs that trained players between ages 12 and 21 to claim up to 5% of future transfer fees, but many clubs were previously unaware of their entitlements. A prominent example is Moisés Caicedo's transfer from Brighton to Chelsea, which entitled his former Ecuadorian clubs to a share of the record fee. The distribution has been lauded by club officials, including CD Espoli’s president, who plans to use the funds for club enhancements. Furthermore, the FIFA transfer rules, established in 2001, are under review following a recent European court ruling.