The short answer
When an academy player aged U9 to U16 registers with a new club, the new club pays the player's previous academy a fixed training cost for every year the player was registered there. The amount depends on the player's age group in each of those years and the previous academy's category (Rule 363 of the Youth Development Rules). On top of that come appearance payments if the player goes on to play first-team football. For example, a player registered at a Category 2 academy from U9 to U14 is worth £146,250 in training costs.
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The 2026/27 training cost table
These are the annual fixed training costs in the EFL Youth Development Rules 2026/27 (Rule 363). The new club adds up one figure for each year the player was registered at the previous academy, using the category that academy held in that year.
| Age group | Category 1 | Category 2 | Category 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 9 | £5,000 | £5,000 | £5,000 |
| Under 10 | £10,000 | £8,750 | £7,500 |
| Under 11 | £15,000 | £12,500 | £10,000 |
| Under 12 | £45,000 | £30,000 | £15,000 |
| Under 13 | £60,000 | £40,000 | £20,000 |
| Under 14 to Under 16 (per year) | £80,000 | £50,000 | £25,000 |
These figures have applied to registrations approved since the 2022/23 rules and are reviewed each season, so always check the current rulebook.
Worked examples
| Player | Years counted | Training costs |
|---|---|---|
| Category 2 academy, registered U9 to U14 | U9, U10, U11, U12, U13, U14 | £146,250 |
| Category 1 academy, registered U12 to U16 | U12, U13, U14, U15, U16 | £345,000 |
| Category 3 academy, registered U9 to U12 | U9, U10, U11, U12 | £37,500 |
If the player only spent part of a season at the academy, the amount for that year is worked out pro rata (Rule 370). The new club pays the training costs to the most recent training club within seven days of registering the player (Rule 360).
When compensation is due
Compensation applies when the previous academy still had a claim on the player (Rule 352). In practice that means the academy:
- had said it intended to keep the player's registration, or
- had offered the player a scholarship, or
- lost the player because the family moved outside the permitted travelling time, or
- agreed to cancel the registration on terms that kept its right to compensation.
There are exceptions. If the new club is in a lower division and has a lower-category academy, it may owe only the appearance payments, or nothing at all if a year has passed since the player was last registered (Rule 354).
Appearance payments on top
Contingent compensation is paid if the player goes on to play first-team football, for each of their first 100 first-team appearances (Rules 364 to 366):
| Division | Per appearance | 100 appearances |
|---|---|---|
| Premier League | £30,000 | £3,000,000 |
| Championship | £2,500 | £250,000 |
| League One | £500 | £50,000 |
| League Two | £250 | £25,000 |
- Appearances 101 to 200 count if they come in a higher division than earlier ones, topping up the difference (Rule 365).
- A club that held the player for only part of the U9 to U16 years gets a pro rata share (Rule 371).
- The training club also gets 5% of future transfer fees between League, Premier League and National League clubs, and 20% of any fee above training compensation if the player moves abroad before 23 (Rule 364).
Older players and scholarships
The fixed table only covers players who were U9 to U16 when they joined the new club. For players aged U17 to U21, or where the academy had offered a scholarship, the clubs agree a fee, and if they can't, the Professional Football Compensation Committee decides it (Rule 358).
Frequently asked questions
How is EPPP compensation calculated?
Add up the annual fixed training cost for each year the player was registered at the previous academy, using the player's age group that year and the academy's category (Rule 363). For example, Category 2 from U9 to U14 comes to £146,250. Appearance payments are added later if the player plays first-team football.
Is EPPP compensation based on the buying or the selling club's category?
The selling club's. The figure for each year uses the category of the academy that held the player's registration in that year.
How much compensation is due for a U14 to U16 player?
£80,000 a year at a Category 1 academy, £50,000 at Category 2 and £25,000 at Category 3, for each year in those age groups, on top of the earlier years.
Do appearance payments apply as well?
Yes, if the player goes on to play first-team football: £30,000 per Premier League appearance, £2,500 in the Championship, £500 in League One and £250 in League Two, for the first 100 appearances.
What about players aged U17 and over?
The fixed table doesn't apply. The clubs agree a fee, and if they can't, the Professional Football Compensation Committee sets it.
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