Says Ms Couse: “The Article 19 exemption is fundamental to how UK clubs acquire young talented and cost-effective players.
“Investing heavily in talented under-18 players is the ultimate low-risk, high-reward strategy.
“Given the low cost of acquisition and the amount of money it would cost to acquire a high-calibre player on the transfer market, a club needs only a very small percentage of young players to develop into a successful professional footballer in order to see a positive return on its investment.
“Naturally, losing the Article 19 exception would have adverse consequences for UK clubs. It is crucial for clubs to sign talented players they have identified at the earliest possible occasion, so as to limit their acquisition costs and boost their profits in the event of a subsequent sale of a young talent they have developed.”