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Football Player License, Club Consent and Training Compensation: Legal Guide in the Transition from Amateur to Professional Amateur Football Player License and Transfer Instruction, Professional Football Player Status and Transfer Instruction and Dispute Resolution Board have been updated as of 2026
The amateur football player's license is renewed every season; In order for a football player under the age of 18 to become a professional, the written consent of the club he is registered with is mandatory. Consent and contribution rules for changing clubs vary depending on age and club status. Training compensation for training a football player between the ages of 12 and 23 is paid for professional transfers made until the age of 23, and only the Dispute Resolution Board will resolve the dispute. In the guide, license conditions, consent and release rules, to whom and when training compensation is paid, and loss of rights are explained according to current instruction texts.
1. How to Obtain an Amateur Football Player License?
The license of amateur football players is subject to the Amateur Football Player License and Transfer Instruction, which came into force on 16.09.2025 and was last amended by the decision of the Board of Directors dated 30.07.2026. The license is renewed every year via the digital system and approval procedures are carried out by TFF provincial representatives. If the license is not granted for two consecutive seasons, it will be cancelled.
For the first license application, a club and player commitment form, parental consent and a medical report for those under 18 are required; For football players born in 1990 or earlier, a cardiology report is also required. Age is determined based on biological age. A club can issue a maximum of 75 first licenses for men and 75 first licenses for women in a season.
Transfer time It is carried out only during the transfer and registration periods determined by TFF.
seasonal limit A football player can be registered with a maximum of two clubs in a season; Second transfer in the same season is subject to club consent, regardless of age
Under 18 years of age, from a club in a professional league Written consent of previous club required
Football player over 18 years old It can be transferred without consent during registration periods; Until the age of 25, the new club pays contribution to the old club, after the age of 25, no contribution is made.
Club withdrawal, expulsion or relegation Football players can pass without consent; training compensation rules are reserved
TFF announces the amounts of contribution fees and transaction fees separately every year; These amounts are not included in the instruction text. Therefore, the current announcement text must be checked during each transfer period.
According to the Instruction on the Status and Transfers of Professional Football Players, an amateur football player must be over 15 years of age to become a professional. In the transition of a football player under the age of 18 to professionalism, the written consent of the club to which he is registered is mandatory. A football player who will turn professional in the second transfer period must mutually renounce his current amateur registration with his club (Article 5).
Conversely, in order for a professional football player to become an amateur without compensation, the contract must be terminated, terminated or mutually terminated and at least 30 days must have passed since the last official match. A football player who returns to amateur status cannot become a professional again in the first transfer period that follows (article 6). A football player whose active football career ends remains registered in the name of the club he last played for for 30 months (Art. 7).
A club that wants to meet with a professional football player whose contract is still ongoing must obtain written permission from the current club before the meeting (Art. 19/6). Violation of this rule will result in disciplinary liability for the new club.
4. What is Training Compensation?
Training compensation is the amount paid to the club that trained the football player between the ages of 12 and 23, in case the football player is transferred professionally. The calculation is made according to TFF records and from the date the training actually starts. Clubs are divided into four categories based on their investment in breeding; TFF announces the categories and seasonal amounts every year before the first transfer and registration period. In the calculation, the category on the date of transfer is taken as basis and age corrections are not taken into account (Art. 16).
Compensation is paid for all professional transfers until the player reaches the age of 23.
In a temporary transfer, the club that sends the player temporarily is entitled to compensation for that period.
If a football player over the age of 23 changes clubs, no training compensation will be paid.
If the club terminates the player unfairly or if the player terminates for just cause, the club loses its right to compensation.
Compensation is determined and paid with the consent of the relevant clubs. If no agreement is reached, the dispute will be decided only by the Dispute Resolution Board; Court or arbitration is not an alternative in this regard. Calculation and payment principles are also regulated in Annex-1 of the instruction.
A 17-year-old football player who has been playing in an amateur club since the age of 12 wants to sign a contract with a club in the professional league. The amateur club does not give consent, stating that it has been working for the development of the football player for years, and states that if it gives consent, it will demand training compensation.
Since the football player is under 18 years of age, the written consent of the amateur club is mandatory in the transition to professionalism, as per the instructions; Registration cannot be made without consent. Giving consent in writing is also a suitable basis for reaching an agreement on training compensation. Since the football player is under 23 years of age, the transfer gives rise to training compensation; The amount is calculated based on the club's category at the time of transfer and the length of time the player has actually been training since the age of 12. If the parties cannot agree on the amount, the matter is referred to the Dispute Resolution Board. Compensation for breeding with consent are separate legal headings and should be managed separately.
If the club does not give consent, can the player not play at all?
Written consent is mandatory for a football player under the age of 18 to transition to professionalism. A football player over the age of 18 can transfer without consent during the registration periods; Only up to the age of 25 does the new club pay contributions.
Who pays training compensation?
Compensation is paid by the club that transferred the player professionally to the club that trained him.
Can I file a lawsuit for upbringing compensation?
These disputes are decided only by the Dispute Resolution Board. Filing a lawsuit in court is not the way to go in this regard.
Is compensation paid to a football player who is over 23 years old?
No. If a football player over the age of 23 changes clubs, no training compensation will be paid.
Where are licensing procedures carried out?
Amateur license applications are made via the digital system and approval procedures are carried out by TFF provincial representatives. Submitting complete documents prevents any delay in the transaction.
Signing a contract without obtaining written consent or starting to play without waiting for registration.
Attempting to register in a way that would result in more than two club changes during the season.
Accepting training compensation without checking the club category and training duration.
Failing to obtain a license visa for two consecutive seasons, leading to the cancellation of the license.
Not confirming the contribution fee and transaction fee amounts from the current TFF announcement.
The transition from amateur to professional is a technical process that most football players and their families encounter for the first time. Consent, contribution and training compensation are different legal institutions and each has separate rules in terms of age, duration and forum. Making this distinction from the beginning prevents the player's career from being delayed and the clubs from being burdened with unexpected compensation.
Küheylan Law Firm; It provides legal support to football players, their families and clubs in the execution of licensing and consent processes, training compensation calculation and negotiation, and follow-up of files before the Dispute Resolution Board.
Important Legal Notice: The legal explanations contained in this guide have been prepared by Küheylan Law Firm for general information purposes and do not constitute legal advice. In sports law, federation instructions change frequently, objection and application periods are short; Since each file has its own unique conditions, it is recommended to get support from a lawyer before taking action. © 2026 Küheylan Law Firm. All rights reserved.
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