The transfer market in football will look very different this summer than usual. In the uncertain period due to the corona crisis, large transfer sums will probably not be an issue.
“TV rights hang like a sword of Damocles over the football world,” said Louis Laros, agent on behalf of the VVCS, the organization that represents the interests of players in collective bargaining and contract negotiations.
“Fortunately, things are different in the Netherlands, but in England, Spain and Germany, for example, the TV rights are only paid if the matches are actually played. At clubs from those countries, the TV rights form the largest part of the income on the budget. Then it would really have a lot of impact if it suddenly disappears. “
His colleague agent Revien Kanhai of Forza Sports Group agrees with this. “Many clubs have no financial reserves, although this is a basic rule for healthy business operations. They never thought that something like this could happen. If the games are not played, they suddenly have to pay back a part, while they have long spent. “
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Case observer Louis Laros (right) with technical director Joris Mathijsen and defender Freek Heerkens of Willem II. (Photo: Pro Shots)
High transfer fees are a thing of the past
This will have irrevocable consequences for the transfer market, where the trees have seemed to grow into the sky in recent years. In the summer of 2017, Neymar exchanged FC Barcelona for a record amount of 222 million euros for Paris Saint-Germain and various other players were sold for more than 100 million. Laros and Kanhai do not expect to see those amounts in the coming transfer period.
“Football is part of the global economy, you will see that in all kinds of markets there will be less spending for the time being,” predicts Kanhai. “Just look at the international stock exchanges, there are big losses visible. Confidence in the economy is not great at the moment. Everyone is shocked by the COVID-19 pandemic, that is no different in the football world.”
Kanhai expects the high transfer fees to return in the long term. “The market will automatically stabilize again. It will only take a while, it is difficult to estimate how long.”
“The clubs are living in uncertain times,” Laros agrees. “And the players really understand that. This situation is not fun for anyone, but it is no different.”
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Revien Kanhai. (Photo: Forza Sports Group)
‘Making collective agreements about football after 30 June’
A special team has been set up at the Kanhai football agency to map out the possible consequences of the corona crisis for its clients on a daily basis. “We have players in 16 different countries and the situation is different everywhere. This could have implications for future deals in the upcoming very uncertain transfer window,” he said.
“Right now we have to be sharp. Last weekend we completed our first transfer in the corona era with Wessel Dammers to FC Groningen, and there are still several going on.”
Laros has been less busy in recent weeks than before. “Everything is at the clubs on hold. They are waiting to see how this will develop. Nobody knows whether the competition can start on time next season, which is of course important if you want to sell season tickets or sky boxes and if you are negotiating with a new sponsor. “
Players and clubs hope that the current season can still be played, although chances are that the last games will only be played after June 30. That date is important, because then many contracts expire.
“Everyone knows the story of Hakim Ziyech, who officially goes from Ajax to Chelsea on July 1, and there are of course more players,” says Laros. “There must be real collective agreements on this, the rules will have to be the same in all countries if we want to extend the competition.”
‘Maybe wiser to stop the season’
Kanhai is part of a task force in contact with FIFA on the current situation. “My feeling is that FIFA will let each association determine whether the competition can be played, depending of course on the guidelines of the national governments. June 30 as an end date already seems difficult to achieve given the development of the virus worldwide.”
“If all countries and umbrella organizations conform to making the season last longer, everything will have to move up. Also the start of the new season, the many expiring contracts on June 30 and the transfer deadline of August 31,” says Kanhai.
“But you also have to ask yourself if that’s feasible. Maybe it would be wiser to stop the season and start again next season, despite the TV rights.”
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The coronavirus in short
- The coronavirus mainly spreads from person to person via sneezing and cough drops. The chance of becoming infected through surfaces such as door handles is small. This chance decreases if you wash your hands often.
- You can considerably reduce the chance of spreading by keeping at least 1.5 meters away from others.
- An infected person infects two to three others on average. Precautions are necessary to contain this.
- The vast majority of patients have mild (flu-like) complaints.
- Almost all deaths involve the elderly or other vulnerable persons, such as heart, lung or diabetes patients. If everyone complies with the measures, this reduces their risks.
- Read here what precautions you should take.
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