Full Guidance: Transfers and dual registrations

Here's a full breakdown on the correct process for a transfer or dual registration.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• 1. Notice of Approach
• 2. Transferring the player from club to club
• 3. Viewing the transfer
• 4. Approving the transfer
• 5. Dual Registrations
• 6. Rejecting the transfer

1. Notice of Approach

The approaching club should submit a 7-day notice of approach to the served club to make it clear that they would like to complete a transfer for their player. 

This is not completed from within The FA's player registration frameworks. This can be done through an email or an instant message but proof of the approach should be retained in the event that a league or county FA need to investigate the grounds of the approach.

The served club can end the 7-day period if they agree to 'waive' the notice period. This means that, rather than waiting for the full 7 days to pass, the player's current club can allow an approach to be made immediately.

2. Transferring the player from club to club

After the 7 days has passed, or the notice of approach has been waived, clubs can begin the transfer process.

Clubs should ensure they are on the 'All Players' tab and looking at the correct club if they have multiple connections. Click 'More' and then 'Add Player'

Then, use the 'Search FA Players' tab, as this player already exists, and enter their name and date of birth, then click to search The FA's database and scroll down to see results.

Note: At this point clubs will see an orange warning triangle if the player does require a notice of approach. If they were unaware of a player's involvement with a club then this warning means the player's current club should be contacted and given notice of approach, as demonstrated earlier, before continuing with the registration.

Select 'Add Player'' and confirm that the correct protocol has been followed.

Clubs should then go on to register the player as they would normally, as explained here: How to register a player.

When registering the player, clubs will be warned again that this is a possible transfer when assigning the player to a team.

3. Viewing the transfer

Head to your 'Pending actions' tab. When viewing the pending registration you will be told very clearly this is a transfer.

And you can scroll down to see the player's details...

The registration you are addressing:

And any existing registrations they may have:

4. Approving the transfer

If you are happy with the grounds of the transfer, then you can approve the registration.

You will then be asked to tick whether this is a transfer or a dual registration. The difference and the consequences are explained as well. 

This particular example is a transfer so the existing registration with the departed club will be cancelled automatically.

You will be given a final warning about the transfer which you can then confirm.

If you have heard from the club and they have no objections to the transfer you can then 'skip waiting period' to waive that 3 day objection period.

After that period has elapsed, or you've skipped that waiting time, you will once again be asked to approve the transfer or dual registration...

And lastly to finalise the transfer.

You then have the option to backdate the registration if you wish to. If not, confirm that approval.

After that, the transfer is approved and the player is registered. The transfer will be noted in the 'info' bar at the top.

5. Dual Registrations

A dual registration follows the same procedure as a transfer up until this point:

Note: A dual registration allows the player to play for two teams who share the same day of play. Selecting this option will preserve the initial club's registration and allow the new registration alongside.

Instead, select 'Dual Registration' and then approve.

You'll miss out all of the transfer warnings and jump straight to confirming the start date of the registration.

'Confirm Registration' and the player will show as registered.

6. Rejecting the transfer

Alternatively, if you are not happy with the transfer for any reason you can click on 'Reject'.

You can cycle through some default reasons which will auto-populate a specific reason for you. You can also select 'Other' from the list which allows you to add your own reason.

And, once you are happy, you can 'Reject Registration' which will show clearly on your records:

The club's view is very similar. They can use the rejection reason to cancel the request, action the change as stipulated in the 'Rejection Reason', and can then resubmit the registration to the league.