Analysis · Draft
I've received an offer. Does that mean the transfer is already done?
Interest or a conversation does not in itself mean that a player is registered with a club. The four stages of a deal and what needs to be confirmed at each one.
· By the TRECE team
This article is a preview draft: the team reviews it before it is published.
In football, some stages get confused with one another. To understand what stage a deal is at, you need to confirm what was agreed, which documents were signed and which registration steps are still pending.
Interest
A club may show interest or start a conversation. That does not yet confirm that an agreement exists.
Offer
An offer lets you see the terms being put forward. Before deciding, you need to understand what it includes and what is still pending: the sporting project, the commitments and the impact on your life are all part of the same conversation.
Agreement and signature
If the parties reach an agreement, the terms and the relevant documents must be clear. If an agent represents you, the representation agreement is in writing (FIFA Football Agent Regulations, article 12.1) and has a minimum content: the parties, the duration, the fee, the services and the signatures (article 12.7).
Registration
Registering the player is a separate stage. The official periods are set by association, season and category.
Interest, offer, signature and registration do not mean the same thing. Confirm each stage before treating it as closed.
