Loaning players from clubs under the same ownership could potentially be banned under a new Premier League vote.
Shareholders of Premier League clubs are set to vote on a temporary ban on 21 November according to the Daily Mail, needing 14 majority votes for the ban to be approved.
The temporary ban does not apply to permanent transfers however – under the Premier League’s existing ‘associated-party transaction’ guidelines – and any such ban involving loan deals may be put on hold until after the impending January transfer window.
The move by the English top-flight league comes after reported interest in Al-Hilal player Ruben Neves from Newcastle United, with both clubs sharing the same majority owner in the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF).
Newcastle were also in the spotlight in the summer transfer window after Allan Saint-Maximin signed for Al-Ahli – also owned by the PIF – in a £20m move, although the league’s guidelines permitted the transfer to happen.
Premier League officials are adamant that the potential ban is not targeting Newcastle, rather a tougher stance on the current trend of multi-club ownership models and maintaining the integrity of a fair transfer market.
If 14 Premier League clubs agree to approve the ban, this means that, for example, Manchester City will not be able to loan players, and vice-versa, from other City Football Group-owned clubs, such as Girona, New York City FC and Melbourne City FC.
Other Premier League clubs under multi-club ownership that will be affected by the potential ban include Arsenal, Aston Villa, Chelsea, to name a few, no matter the size and scope of the stake in the club.
