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Another academy prospect poached
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True, though I was meaning poaching at u18 level and below, before players can sign pro and where we’d pay compensation.Henry Irving said:
Couple of AFC Wimbledon players signed this summer but suspect they had been releasedScoham said:
In the first team maybe, but I don’t remember hearing of many of our youth players being poached from the academies of smaller clubs.shine166 said:We'll knick another one from league 2 next month and everyone will love it, works both ways.
Most u21 signings we make are players who have been released.0 -
Can you sign a binding contract at 15?Gisappointed said:Why is there a 17 age limit on signing a contract? I'm pretty sure it is a football thing, not Employment Law. If we had these kids on contract, we couldn't stop them being poached but might circumvent the ridiculous EPPP compensation rules.0 -
Gisappointed said:Why is there a 17 age limit on signing a contract? I'm pretty sure it is a football thing, not Employment Law. If we had these kids on contract, we couldn't stop them being poached but might circumvent the ridiculous EPPP compensation rules.Even at 17 there is a risk because most contracts signed by minors (under 18) are voidable by the minor and only enforceable when they reach 18 - they can just walk away - which is why most professional football contracts are signed at 18.It is contract law rather than employment law but it does apply to Contracts of Employment.Moreover, any employment contract signed at 16 or 17 must involve a significant element of structured training e.g. an apprenticeship.The compensation rules are actually a bonus rather than ridiculous.1
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Pretty sure at 15 you can sign a pre contract that kicks in on your 17th birthday, I think Arsenal have done that with Dowman. That isn’t a feasible model for us though as we couldn’t afford to do it with enough of the squad0
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It happens with very young players as well. My friend's grandson is eleven and plays for Ipswich. He played a few games for Charlton, who wanted him on their books, but Ipswich was a better location for him.
Apparently Charlton are still sniffing around and offering incentives for him to move. I don't think it'll happen but it demonstrates how promising kids are spotted and tapped up from a very young age.1 -
It’s because they are still in full time education if you’re 15 you’re naive, sign a 3 year deal on professional terms you’re likely to think schooling is absolutely useless throw it in the bin then next year 3 years they suffer a horrific ACL injury can’t play to the same standard of football, and suddenly have nothing to fall back on, think it’s to offer some sort of protection if they don’t make it professionally. I personally think it’s a good thing to keep young players humbled and not give them everything at that age but the rules about poaching academy prospects need to be re-evaluatedGisappointed said:Why is there a 17 age limit on signing a contract? I'm pretty sure it is a football thing, not Employment Law. If we had these kids on contract, we couldn't stop them being poached but might circumvent the ridiculous EPPP compensation rules.3 -
I doubt any club would even want all their 15 year olds on pre contracts - it’s got to be a reward for their progression, not something every 15 year old gets automatically.fenaddick said:Pretty sure at 15 you can sign a pre contract that kicks in on your 17th birthday, I think Arsenal have done that with Dowman. That isn’t a feasible model for us though as we couldn’t afford to do it with enough of the squad2 -
Agreed but PL clubs can afford to give a % away to reset progression as a bet, realistically if we do it that player has to be already pushing for the first team alreadyScoham said:
I doubt any club would even want all their 15 year olds on pre contracts - it’s got to be a reward for their progression, not something every 15 year old gets automatically.fenaddick said:Pretty sure at 15 you can sign a pre contract that kicks in on your 17th birthday, I think Arsenal have done that with Dowman. That isn’t a feasible model for us though as we couldn’t afford to do it with enough of the squad0 -
I didnt realise that,but it sort of endorses my point that he maybe was wrong to leave us.Chris_from_Sidcup said:
Chelsea sold him to Hull for 2m.thickandthin63 said:These kids dont look at the bigger picture,this lad is 15,I doubt he will get any where near their senior squad for 6-7 years,if your not good enough you are farmed out and probably forgotten.Prime example,Mason Burstow could have been part of our present set up,but is playing in league 1,will he ever play for Chelsea,not a chance.0 -
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Ask that w****r Ged Roddylancashire lad said:What is the point in having a successful academy if the system allows the best youngsters to be poached by the "big" clubs ?1 -
At 15 they can sign a scholarship contract which means they will then get paid something, and at 16 they can sign a pre-contract on pro terms which kicks in when they turn 17.fenaddick said:Pretty sure at 15 you can sign a pre contract that kicks in on your 17th birthday, I think Arsenal have done that with Dowman. That isn’t a feasible model for us though as we couldn’t afford to do it with enough of the squad1 -
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It’s a tough read but the nature of the game unfortunately, the real injustice as always is that we get stiffed on fees that these players would command from cat 1 academiesScoham said:5 -
according to Methven back in December on the annual forum we currently spend 2M a year on the academy. Anyone have any idea how much it would roughly cost to get to Cat 1. I know Sandgaard tried and failed to do so when he was in charge but by the reactions of people inside the club at the time when it failed it made it seem like we were nearly on the boundary of doing so1
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Mishel Nduka, who left us for Arsenal last year, is moving on to Man City. Suspect we will get a few pennies for this
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7460471/2026/07/21/mishel-nduka-manchester-city-arsenal-transfer/?unlocked_article_code=1.zVA.Qxps.lP6btCMcKv5n&source=user_shared_article&smid=ta-ios-share
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12 months later. Nduka leaves Arsenal to join Man City.Callumcafc said:1 -
Maybe not the most patient or loyal player/agent/parents.
Arsenal clearly a very strong academy local to him so you have to wonder why he has moved.4 -
He got minutes with Arsenal’s U21s in March as a 15 year old so clearly can’t have been worried about being held back or not given opportunities.5
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It's not like he has any better chance of making the City first team so it can only be down to money and what they paid his agent/parents.
Ornstein's tweet says "Arsenal offered competitive long-term deal but 16yo England youth int’l chose Man City"1 -
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Such a shame, from clips on Nduka he clearly has great feet and could be a physical presence in time.
Playing in the Championship at 16/17 didn’t do Bellingham any harm, and when the big offers came they didn’t stand in his way. Might have been the same here but in leaving he gets the top coaching, facilities and money at the cost of earlier first team football.
A reminder that even the big clubs aren’t safe from their players being poached.7 -
Does he use o'keefe's?Scoham said:Such a shame, from clips on Nduka he clearly has great feet and could be a physical presence in time.
Playing in the Championship at 16/17 didn’t do Bellingham any harm, and when the big offers came they didn’t stand in his way. Might have been the same here but in leaving he gets the top coaching, facilities and money at the cost of earlier first team football.
A reminder that even the big clubs aren’t safe from their players being poached.4 -
fenaddick said:Mishel Nduka, who left us for Arsenal last year, is moving on to Man City. Suspect we will get a few pennies for this
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7460471/2026/07/21/mishel-nduka-manchester-city-arsenal-transfer/?unlocked_article_code=1.zVA.Qxps.lP6btCMcKv5n&source=user_shared_article&smid=ta-ios-share
What a stupid decision by him and his advisers. Chasing the £££ at that age is not a good sign for a serious footballer. Not like Arsenal would have low balled him1 -
I get what you are saying but put yourself in this kids shoes, he may have come from a poor family, low income area and all of sudden someone offers him 15/20k a week. I can 100% understand why his head would be turnt.Athletico Charlton said:fenaddick said:Mishel Nduka, who left us for Arsenal last year, is moving on to Man City. Suspect we will get a few pennies for this
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7460471/2026/07/21/mishel-nduka-manchester-city-arsenal-transfer/?unlocked_article_code=1.zVA.Qxps.lP6btCMcKv5n&source=user_shared_article&smid=ta-ios-share
What a stupid decision by him and his advisers. Chasing the £££ at that age is not a good sign for a serious footballer. Not like Arsenal would have low balled him1 -
Its nothing to do with the £ mate ! everyone is moving up North now... even Downing Street lolAthletico Charlton said:fenaddick said:Mishel Nduka, who left us for Arsenal last year, is moving on to Man City. Suspect we will get a few pennies for this
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7460471/2026/07/21/mishel-nduka-manchester-city-arsenal-transfer/?unlocked_article_code=1.zVA.Qxps.lP6btCMcKv5n&source=user_shared_article&smid=ta-ios-share
What a stupid decision by him and his advisers. Chasing the £££ at that age is not a good sign for a serious footballer. Not like Arsenal would have low balled him10 -
It's the Burnham effect.4
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Is this lad a Number 10?4
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Yeah can also play wideLargeAddick said:Is this lad a Number 10?0 -
That's it in a nutshell sadly. Whether the family is wealthy or not is irrelevant these days. The kid can earn £1m a year for a couple of years and, theoretically, not do a lot for it and make his whole family's lives a whole lot better for decades if they are sensible. It's peanuts to Man City, life changing for the player AND their family. If it works out he's clearly sorted for life and if it fails he will have earned enough in a short space of time to secure his future.Radostanradical said:
I get what you are saying but put yourself in this kids shoes, he may have come from a poor family, low income area and all of sudden someone offers him 15/20k a week. I can 100% understand why his head would be turnt.Athletico Charlton said:fenaddick said:Mishel Nduka, who left us for Arsenal last year, is moving on to Man City. Suspect we will get a few pennies for this
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7460471/2026/07/21/mishel-nduka-manchester-city-arsenal-transfer/?unlocked_article_code=1.zVA.Qxps.lP6btCMcKv5n&source=user_shared_article&smid=ta-ios-share
What a stupid decision by him and his advisers. Chasing the £££ at that age is not a good sign for a serious footballer. Not like Arsenal would have low balled him
How can we compete with that4 -
I get Charlton can't compete with that but he was at ArsenalSwisdom said:
That's it in a nutshell sadly. Whether the family is wealthy or not is irrelevant these days. The kid can earn £1m a year for a couple of years and, theoretically, not do a lot for it and make his whole family's lives a whole lot better for decades if they are sensible. It's peanuts to Man City, life changing for the player AND their family. If it works out he's clearly sorted for life and if it fails he will have earned enough in a short space of time to secure his future.Radostanradical said:
I get what you are saying but put yourself in this kids shoes, he may have come from a poor family, low income area and all of sudden someone offers him 15/20k a week. I can 100% understand why his head would be turnt.Athletico Charlton said:fenaddick said:Mishel Nduka, who left us for Arsenal last year, is moving on to Man City. Suspect we will get a few pennies for this
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7460471/2026/07/21/mishel-nduka-manchester-city-arsenal-transfer/?unlocked_article_code=1.zVA.Qxps.lP6btCMcKv5n&source=user_shared_article&smid=ta-ios-share
What a stupid decision by him and his advisers. Chasing the £££ at that age is not a good sign for a serious footballer. Not like Arsenal would have low balled him
How can we compete with that5
