With FIFA against the international transfer of minors, what would happen if Cape Town City forward Emile Witbooi's trial at Chelsea is successful?
Witbooi, who is one of the in-demand youngsters in the country, is currently undergoing trials at The Blues.
However, at only 16, he would not be able to be transferred internationally until he's 18.
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According to FIFA Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players, minors (players under the age of 18) are prohibited from being transferred internationally, unless they meet one of six limited exceptions.
KickOff spoke to a European expert in international transfers and the scout explained that should Chelsea want to sign Witbooi, they can come to an agreement with The Citizens, pay transfer fees in advance but can only receive the player once he turns 18.
"He [Witbooi] can only move there when he's 18 but Chelsea can sign an agreement with the club in advance," the Africa-based European scout told this website.
"There is an option to do pre-contract, they have done that with the boy from Ecuador [Kendry Paez] potentially.
"It's possible that if he's successful on a trial then he can go when he's 18 but the transfer can be done before that," the anonymous scout explained.
Chelsea signed Paez from Ecuadorian club Independiente del Valle in June last year after the teenager, who turns 18 next year, only had a handful of appearances for the senior team.
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The 17-year-old has continued to play for Del Valle in 2024, scoring eight goals and five assists in 34 matches and will leave for Chelsea when he turns 18 next year in May.
Paez could have been present when his Ecuadorian outfit lost 3-1 to Orlando Pirates in a pre-season friendly in Spain last year.
The London outfit had a FIFA transfer ban upheld by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in 2019 after breaches in minor international transfer rules.