Louis Page signs Pro Deal

[Ric Flair]

48 minutes ago, Terraloon said:

As I pointed out elsewhere a player at age 17 as long as they aren’t in full time education, can sign a contract but at the age of 18 when they become of age have to re sign their contract. In effect the likes of Page, like Monga if indeed they have  signed contracts have a get out clause.

 

I am left wondering what my advice would be if one of my sons was seen as a top talent, but the club they were with got relegated to the third tier in football and there was a get out of jail card 

Is that strictly true? Until 18, the maximum length pro contract is 3 years but it doesn't get ripped up 17/18 if they don't sign fresh terms, only when the contract expires is what I understood.

[Tommy Fresh]

22 minutes ago, Ric Flair said:

Is that strictly true? Until 18, the maximum length pro contract is 3 years but it doesn't get ripped up 17/18 if they don't sign fresh terms, only when the contract expires is what I understood.

Yeah I don't think he's right, I'm guessing at 18 a lot just sign longer deals as they are then allowed to do so

[Terraloon]

2 hours ago, Ric Flair said:

Is that strictly true? Until 18, the maximum length pro contract is 3 years but it doesn't get ripped up 17/18 if they don't sign fresh terms, only when the contract expires is what I understood.

 

Contract, Loan and Work Experience Players

Modified on: Tue, 17 Mar, 2026 at 4:06 PM

Contracts

 

Please note the following Rules before entering into any contract of employment with a player.

 

In accordance with The Rules of The Association - Rule C:

 

C11    Players must be aged 18 or over in order to enter into a Playing Contract, save that a Player aged 17 may enter into a Playing Contract where they are not in Full-time Education. 

[Terraloon]

Just now, Terraloon said:

 

 

 

Contract, Loan and Work Experience Players

Modified on: Tue, 17 Mar, 2026 at 4:06 PM

Contracts

 

Please note the following Rules before entering into any contract of employment with a player.

 

In accordance with The Rules of The Association - Rule C:

 

C11    Players must be aged 18 or over in order to enter into a Playing Contract, save that a Player aged 17 may enter into a Playing Contract where they are not in Full-time Education. 

Until someone reaches the age of majority 18, any contract has to be countersigned by a parent / guardian and although I am not aware of any challenges my understanding is that a challenge to void a contract signed before that age is likely to succeed 

 

 

[moore_94]

4 minutes ago, Terraloon said:

Until someone reaches the age of majority 18, any contract has to be countersigned by a parent / guardian and although I am not aware of any challenges my understanding is that a challenge to void a contract signed before that age is likely to succeed 

 

 

What has this ever happened though?

 

It seems like you are suggesting Page could just walk away from the club this summer? Can't see that being how it works tbh otherwise you would see it happen a lot more with highly rated youngsters who have signed pro deals

Edited 20 April by moore_94

[Terraloon]

9 minutes ago, moore_94 said:

What has this ever happened though?

 

It seems like you are suggesting Page could just walk away from the club this summer? Can't see that being how it works tbh otherwise you would see it happen a lot more with highly rated youngsters who have signed pro deals

Minors

In general terms, adults of sound mind

have full contractual capacity and are free

to enter into such agreements as they

wish1. Minors (those under the age of 18)

do not have full capacity to enter into

agreements. The rules which apply to

minors are a mixture of common law and

statute, and depend on when the contract

was made. Contracts entered into after

9th June 1987 are subject to the Minors

Contracts Act 1987. In considering cases

cited in relation to capacity of minors it

should be remembered that the age of

majority was only lowered to 18 from 21

in 1969, so in the early cases minors were

older than they are now.

The general rule

The general rule is that contracts made by

minors are voidable at the option of the

minor. Rather confusingly, voidable, is

used in two different senses:

Certain contracts are voidable in the

sense that they were binding unless

the minor repudiated, before or within

a reasonable period of time, after

reaching the age of majority, for

example, turning 18 years’ old.

Other contracts are voidable in that

they are not binding unless ratified by

the minor when reaching the age of

majority.

[moore_94]

1 minute ago, Terraloon said:

 

Minors

In general terms, adults of sound mind

have full contractual capacity and are free

to enter into such agreements as they

wish1. Minors (those under the age of 18)

do not have full capacity to enter into

agreements. The rules which apply to

minors are a mixture of common law and

statute, and depend on when the contract

was made. Contracts entered into after

9th June 1987 are subject to the Minors

Contracts Act 1987. In considering cases

cited in relation to capacity of minors it

should be remembered that the age of

majority was only lowered to 18 from 21

in 1969, so in the early cases minors were

older than they are now.

The general rule

The general rule is that contracts made by

minors are voidable at the option of the

minor. Rather confusingly, voidable, is

used in two different senses:

Certain contracts are voidable in the

sense that they were binding unless

the minor repudiated, before or within

a reasonable period of time, after

reaching the age of majority, for

example, turning 18 years’ old.

Other contracts are voidable in that

they are not binding unless ratified by

the minor when reaching the age of

majority.

Can you actually find an example of this ever happening with a player who has signed his pro deal?

 

I highly doubt that this would work as straight forward as you are trying to show it as otherwise, like I said, you would see it happening a lot

[Terraloon]

2 minutes ago, moore_94 said:

Can you actually find an example of this ever happening with a player who has signed his pro deal?

 

I highly doubt that this would work as straight forward as you are trying to show it as otherwise, like I said, you would see it happening a lot

As I said earlier I am not aware of any challenges.

 

Very very few players actually sign contracts under the age of 18 simply because in England youngsters are required to be in full time education till the age of 18

 

[Tommy Fresh]

12 minutes ago, Terraloon said:

As I said earlier I am not aware of any challenges.

 

Very very few players actually sign contracts under the age of 18 simply because in England youngsters are required to be in full time education till the age of 18

 

You can sign a three year deal at 17, so why would they allow that if it's only valid until 18.

 

Also you don't have to be in full time education until 18

Edited 20 April by Tommy Fresh

[Guesty]

This is Google Ai, so might not be 100% correct, I haven't researched it. I deleted most of it and just kept the important bit. 

 

Here is a breakdown of how an 18-year-old can break their contract:

 

Unilateral Termination: A player can walk away without just cause, but this is highly risky. Under FIFA regulations, this is "vehemently discouraged" and will likely require the player to pay compensation (which can be the remaining value of the contract) and face a ban of up to four months (or more in aggravated circumstances). 

 

[Terraloon]

4 minutes ago, Tommy Fresh said:

You can sign a three year deal at 17, so why would they allow that if it's only valid until 18.

You can indeed sign a 3 year deal, if the individual isn’t in education which is a requirement in the UK .but that’s not what the point being made.

 

Untill the age of 18 is reached any contract has to be countersigned by a parent or guardian. There is nothing to say that the contract can’t run for 3 years the point I am trying to make is that any contract signed in such circumstances could be challenged.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Terraloon]

3 minutes ago, Guesty said:

This is Google Ai, so might not be 100% correct, I haven't researched it. I deleted most of it and just kept the important bit. 

 

Here is a breakdown of how an 18-year-old can break their contract:

 

Unilateral Termination: A player can walk away without just cause, but this is highly risky. Under FIFA regulations, this is "vehemently discouraged" and will likely require the player to pay compensation (which can be the remaining value of the contract) and face a ban of up to four months (or more in aggravated circumstances). 

 

This stems from Article 17 of FIFs  regulations around status of players.

 

Following the EU courts ruling around the Diarra case the whole issue of sporting just cause is under scrutiny.

 

The issue would be that the contract was signed before the individual reached the age of majority.