Can A Football Player Refuse a Transfer? Who Has the Powers?

The destiny of football clubs and the beauty of the magical game of football is usually shaped by a few factors. Transfers is proudly one of them!

Consider Sergio Aguero’s move to Manchester City in 2011 as an example. Without the epic transfer, would Man City be bragging about owning a star player who’s scored over 260 goals or winning five Premium League Titles, among other accolades? Of course not.

With that in mind, football transfers are complicated affairs. And sometimes, they are orchestrated by vested club interests and contested by players. Which brings us to one crucial question: who has the ultimate power in football transfers?

Read on to find out.

Can a Club Force a Player to Transfer?

Transfers are usually discussed between the involved players and key management figures of a football team. However, the following can make it necessary for a club to force a player to transfer:

1. Gross Misconduct

Good conduct and behavior are crucial in football. Footballers have to conduct themselves well to make the sport enjoyable for everyone. Otherwise, players who act poorly undermine the values that make football a beloved sport, including discipline and sportsmanship.

They also soil their club’s image and enrage fans, who are indispensable since they are the ones who create a lively atmosphere during matches and enable their respective clubs to generate revenue.

Since good behavior is essential in this sport, clubs often force players to transfer due to gross misconduct. For instance, deplorable behavior encouraged QPR to initiate Joey Barton’s move to QPR in 2012.

What did “Bingo Barton” do, you ask? For starters, he elbowed Carlos Tevez in the face and kneed Sergio Aguero in the back, necessitating a 12-match ban.

2. Performance Decline

All football players experience career slumps at least once in their lifetimes, even the biggest stars. Take Cristiano Ronaldo as an example.

Before returning to Manchester United, he played for Juventus, where he did exceptionally well, scoring over 100 goals and guiding the team to two Serie A titles. Surely, nothing could have gone wrong for a player performing that well, right? Wrong.

In the summer of 2021, Cristiano Ronaldo returned to Manchester United (one of the richest football clubs in the world), and his downfall from being a dream player began.

The star started off quite well, scoring 2 goals in his debut. But by the end of 2021, he’d only scored 14 goals for his team, which, though impressive, can’t compare to how he performed in Juventus.

A case like Cristiano’s may lead to a forced transfer initiated by the club. That is because, sometimes, footballers fail to adjust to pressure and expectations after joining specific teams. And when that happens, their clubs have no option but to move them.

3. Financial Issues

Many football clubs have flirted with financial disaster at some point. Various issues often contribute to this complication. These include high player salaries, excessive transfer spending, poor financial management, and lack of revenue diversification.

While a club is in financial distress, another may offer to buy a player at a juicy price. A notable example is Neymar’s move to PSG in 2017.

Many speculated that Barcelona forced Neymar Jr. to transfer to Paris Saint Germain because the club was in a financial crisis, and PSG was ready to buy the player for over 200 million euros.

Read Also: Football News Tidbits – Sep, Week 2

Who Ultimately Makes the Decision During Football Transfers?

Evidently, a football club can force a player out for several reasons, including declining performance and gross misconduct.

That said, footballers can legally refuse a proposed transfer move with the help of the player’s agent, who initially oversees the player’s decision. Especially when they are still under contract. And they can do that, even if their club has already struck a transfer deal with a buying party.

Simply put, only a player can decide whether to stay in their current club or join another team.

If a player refuses to be transferred, the only thing their club can do is persuade them. But sometimes, clubs use dirty tricks to force out players.

For example, some freeze out uncooperative players and prevent them from playing in crucial matches or attending training sessions. Others tell players who need to be transferred they have limited prospects by reducing playing time and criticizing them in the media.

Why is it necessary to have a football transfer?

Football transfers may sound bad, but they are not. In fact, they are often necessary for the following reasons:

• Improving club performance: A team plagued by poor performance can use transfers to let go of underperforming players and acquire new signings likely to strengthen its squad. And that can fuel competitiveness and enhance performance.
• Facilitating player development: Promising players may need to be transferred to bigger clubs where they can hone their skills through better training, resources, challenging environments, guidance from veterans, etc.
• Contributing to the globalization of football: Through transfers, footballers can move freely from one club to another and experience playing in different leagues. This contributes to globalization and expands the involved leagues’ fanbase beyond regional boundaries.
• Igniting excitement and anticipation: Football feeds and thrives on anticipation and excitement. For instance, you can always feel the buzz in the air before an electrifying match. The same applies to transfers. A significant signing keeps fans at the edge of their seats, making this sport more thrilling and engaging.

Players that Refused a Transfer

In the world of soccer, big money transfers are commonplace. However, occasionally even the largest contracts can’t sway some players who decide to refuse a transfer.

Despite great personal and financial incentive, these players stuck with their current clubs due to loyalty, disagreements with management, or simply wanting to determine their own future. 

1. Francesco Totti – Roma

When it came to Francesco Totti leaving his beloved AS Roma, it really was like trying to move the Colosseum itself out of Rome – basically impossible, according to his former coach Luciano Spalletti. 

For 25 long years, no amount of money or offers from other top clubs could lure Totti away from the Stadio Olimpico. Even after finally winning the Scudetto with Roma in 2001, when Real Madrid came calling, Totti was like “nah, I’m good.” 

He famously said “They taught us in school that family is the most important thing. Did you ever hear of someone leaving their poor parents to live with rich strangers?” Cold hard truth right there. 

Totti on why he refused Real Madrid in 2006:

''They taught us at school that family is the most important. Roma is my family. Have you ever heard of someone who left his poor parents to live with rich strangers?'' pic.twitter.com/vpqL1pS6oh

— Players Sayings (@PlayersSayings) March 27, 2018

No doubt Totti missed out on tons more trophies and success elsewhere. But in the end, as Serie A’s second highest goalscorer ever, the tearful, overjoyed Totti had no regrets during his massively emotional farewell match in 2017.

No championship could have possibly felt better than the pure love between Totti and the Roma faithful – that’s a feeling you can’t buy.

2. Alan Shearer – Newcastle

When Romelu Lukaku joined Manchester United, he was like “Who would say no to the biggest club in the world?” Well, Alan Shearer had the perfect clap back, tweeting “I did. I turned down…Barcelona.” 

I did. I turned down ….Barcelona! https://t.co/TTLBs9P1vQ

— Alan Shearer (@alanshearer) July 9, 2017

See, back in the 90s, Shearer had just won a Premier League title and two straight Golden Boots with Blackburn Rovers. He was the top scorer at Euro 96 too, so of course Manchester United and Alex Ferguson came calling again, after trying to sign him years earlier.  

But Shearer decided to join his hometown club Newcastle United instead. In his first season, he won another Golden Boot, but Newcastle finished second in the Premier League – behind the very team he snubbed, Man United.

Then at the end of the season, Barcelona’s coach Sir Bobby Robson tried to tempt Shearer to Spain. Still, nothing could lure the loyal Englishman away from St. James’ Park. Shearer never won any trophies with Newcastle, but retired as the Premier League’s all-time leading scorer. 

So while Lukaku boasts about joining the “biggest club,” Shearer had no regrets turning down actual biggest clubs Manchester United and Barcelona.

3. Steven Gerrard – Liverpool

After leading Liverpool to that epic Champions League victory over Milan, it seemed crazy that Steven Gerrard would ever leave the Reds. But believe it or not, after getting tempted by Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea that summer, Gerrard actually handed in a transfer request! 

Having the reigning Premier League champs come calling left Gerrard torn – should he join a club with big ambitions and a top manager like Mourinho, or stay loyal to the team he’d loved since childhood? 

Gerrard said he only used the transfer request to push Liverpool to finalize his contract extension, which had stalled and left him frustrated. 

In the end, Gerrard chose devotion to Liverpool over chasing trophies with Chelsea. Looking back after retirement, he said “Of course I regret not winning the Premier League, but I’m proud of my loyalty…Liverpool means the world.”  

For Gerrard, leaving the club he’d always loved was too difficult, even if it meant missing out on more silverware. His heart was at Anfield.

3. Pavel Nedved – Juventus

When Juventus surprisingly declined to renew Nedved’s contract in 2009, Inter Milan and Jose Mourinho came calling, urging the Czech midfielder to join them and promising a Champions League title. 

Nedved knew how brilliant Mourinho was and what they could achieve together. But there was one major roadblock – the intense rivalry between Juve and Inter.  

As Nedved later explained, “I was and am a Juventino, so I said no. I loved Juventus too much to join Inter…I really wished I’d won the Champions League with Juve, but I couldn’t do it in another team’s jersey.”

13 years ago to the day, Pavel Nedved retired from playing. He received an offer from Inter, but rather than betray Juve, he decided to retire.

“I can live without football, but I can't live without Juventus,” he said.

He was also director & vice-president of the club for 12… pic.twitter.com/r0TAzwUEm5

— PurelyFootball ℗ (@PurelyFootball) April 25, 2023

In the end, Nedved missed out on Mourinho’s treble-winning 2009-10 Inter side. But he also got to remain loyal to the club dearest to his heart, and is now Juventus’ vice president. 

While it meant sacrificing a likely Champions League medal, Nedved just couldn’t bring himself to join his beloved Juve’s arch-rivals, no matter how tempting the offer.

5. Diego Godin – Atletico Madrid

In 2015, Manuel Pellegrini wanted to reunite with his former Villarreal player Diego Godin at Manchester City. But the Uruguayan center-back, fresh off reaching the Champions League final and winning La Liga with Atletico Madrid, decided to turn down the offer. 

Diego Godin reveals reason why he rejected Manchester United move https://t.co/rl9VN5l6kE pic.twitter.com/H0aA0eSoQD

— Mirror Football (@MirrorFootball) August 14, 2018

As Godin later said, “It’s true, City wanted me when Pellegrini was there…I’m proud he wanted me, but I’m just another loyal fan of this Atletico club. I’m very happy here.”

Godin did have to endure more Champions League final heartbreak against Real Madrid in 2016. And after nearly a decade with Atletico, he’s finally leaving this summer to join Inter Milan.

But back in 2015, Godin spurned his ex-boss Pellegrini and Man City’s interest out of devotion to Atletico, the team he’d helped transform into a powerhouse.

How Much of the Soccer Transfer Fees Do Players Get?

Generally, players don’t get any percentage of the fees arising from their transfer. The buying club is supposed to send the entire sum to the seller.

However, if they agree with the involved clubs, a footballer may receive a signing-on fee, which is the payment that a professional player receives after signing for a club.

The Bottom Line

Transfers are common in football. Clubs often sell and buy new players for various reasons, including to offload underperforming individuals and acquire those likely to increase squad performance.

However, no club can force footballers to move out. A player can decline a transfer proposal if it doesn’t sit well with them. 

Note that players too often force transfers. Most do that after a “tapping up.” Suppose a club shows interest in a particular footballer, but their current club refuses to sell them.

In that case, the player can force a transfer by refusing to play, missing training, or doing anything else that can encourage their ditching. 

Read Also: 10 Famous Football Players Who Started Their Career Late

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a Football Player Refuse to be sold Even if their Contract is Expiring Soon?

Absolutely. If a player’s contract is expiring soon, they might choose not to renew it with the current club and wait for their contract to run out. This would allow them to move to a new club without the need for a transfer fee.

Can a Player Refuse a Transfer if they’re Unhappy With the Terms Offered by the Interested Club?

Correct. A player has the right to reject a transfer if they are not satisfied with the personal terms (such as salary, contract length, etc.) offered by the interested club. 

Can a Player Refuse a Transfer if they Have Concerns About the New Club’s Performance or League Standing?

While a player’s concerns about the new club’s performance or league standing might influence their decision, they typically cannot refuse a transfer based solely on these factors. The player’s current club and the interested club negotiate the transfer, and the player’s consent is often a key factor.

Can a Player Refuse a Transfer During the Transfer Window or Only at Specific Times?

Transfers can generally only occur during designated transfer windows. Players can refuse transfers during these windows, but if they want to move outside of the transfer window, there might need to be special circumstances involved.

Can a Player Refuse a Transfer if they Want to Stay Loyal to their Current Club?

Players often develop a strong loyalty to their clubs, but the decision to refuse a transfer involves various factors, including personal and professional aspirations. A player’s loyalty might influence their decision, but it’s not the only determining factor.

Can a Player be Forced to Transfer Against Their Will?

In most cases, clubs cannot force a player to transfer against their will. However, contractual obligations and release clauses can come into play. If a club pays the release clause specified in the player’s contract, the player might be obliged to leave.

Can a Player Refuse a Transfer for Personal Reasons, Such as Family Considerations?

Personal reasons, such as family considerations, can be valid factors for a player to refuse a transfer. Clubs and governing bodies often take these factors into account during transfer negotiations.

Can a Player Refuse a Transfer Due to Medical or Health-related Concerns?

Health-related concerns can be taken into consideration during transfer negotiations. A player might refuse a transfer if they believe the new club’s medical facilities or resources are not enough for their needs.

Can a Player Refuse a Transfer After They’ve Initially Agreed to It?

While rare, players have been known to change their minds after initially agreeing to a transfer. This can lead to complications and negotiations between the clubs and the player to find a resolution.