Still no agreement between Swansea City and Exeter for Josh Key
Friday, 20th Oct 2023 10:18 by Keith Haynes

Most of our readers will know about the fee’s that have to be paid when a player under the age of twenty four leaves a club for another. That is if a contract by the former club has been offered and turned down. If the player decides to leave then a sum of money has to be paid.

That is generally set quickly, but in the case of Josh Key that hasn’t happened. Sports law is a complicated area, and football as it does with many facets of the game has over complicated it further despite attempts to ensure clubs are protected when losing their players under what was the ‘Bosman’ ruling.

There is an issue with this delay for Swansea City. Josh Key has been an in form asset to the Swans this season to date, he could be the stand out player when the season as it is today is analysed. He has added quality to the defence on both sides and has now begun to chip in with assists and goals.

The player should be assessed as ‘he was’ when he joined Swansea City, however we are told that is rarely the case. Whatever the reasons for the delay it won’t go in the Swans favour. Plus there is another mechanism to consider. Every club Josh Key has played for between the age of twelve and twenty three gets five percent of the fee as well. Torquay United will benefit here. That will be most welcome as they now play in the National League South.

The final consideration will be the most impactive.

The consideration of compensation ‘may’ also consider the players value in time. ‘The basic principle is that the new club must pay training compensation whenever a player signs his first professional contract and each time the player transfers between clubs of two different national associations. Compensation is payable until the end of the season of the player’s 23rd birthday.’ That means there is a ‘solidarity mechanism’ payment that will be decided upon IF the player is a professional ( Josh Key is ) when transferred or before that transfer. That is on top of the training compensation.

The table that is referenced by FIFA offers a minimum of €340,000 in Key’s case plus any solidarity payments on top. The figures are in euros because it falls within EU law. A football arbitration chamber is formed to assess these payments via FIFA. That hasn’t happened as yet, or either the Swans or Exeter are not happy with the sums involved. If that is the case the arbitration for sport in is the last stop to conclude matters.

Like the Southampton compensation for Russell Martin and his staff to leave the Swans ( a different calculation ) hasn’t been finalised neither has the fee for Josh Key to join the Swans from Exeter City. Why that is is being kept under wraps by Swansea City FC we are nit in a position to say. The main issue for Swans fans is that Key is on form and playing at or indeed above Championship standard. That’s the success side of this lengthy process.