When a professional player transfers before their contract expires, part of the transfer compensation is distributed to clubs that contributed to their training. This is the solidarity mechanism, distinct from training compensation.

The principle

The solidarity contribution is a percentage of transfer compensation, allocated among training clubs according to the seasons the player was registered with each club, up to the season of their 23rd birthday.

Solidarity is a share of transfer compensation; training compensation uses training costs. Knowing the distinction can earn exam points.

Why it matters particularly in Africa

Clubs and academies across Africa train players who later transfer abroad, sometimes repeatedly. Each qualifying transaction can generate a solidarity contribution for the original training club, provided the player's history is properly documented.

The electronic player passport

The electronic player passport records registration history by club and season. Inaccurate records can distort allocation and prevent a training club from receiving its entitlement. Agents who understand the process provide a practical service to clubs.

The Clearing House

The FIFA Clearing House centralises and safeguards these payments so that training clubs receive amounts owed to them. Understanding its operation is part of exam preparation.

Common exam mistakes

  • Confusing the mechanisms. A transfer during an existing contract points to solidarity; a first professional registration points to training compensation.
  • Counting beyond the training age range. Allocation counts training seasons up to the player's 23rd birthday season. Later seasons do not count; this does not impose a maximum age for subsequent transfers.
  • Forgetting an intermediate club. A player registered with four clubs between ages 12 and 23 may generate entitlements for all four, not just the last club.
  • Using salary as the basis. The basis is transfer compensation, not player remuneration.

Further reading

The course's module 4 covers solidarity in two lessons—principles, then examples and exam pitfalls—and separately addresses the electronic player passport and Clearing House.