FOOTBALL TRANSFER MARKETS: Episode 8 – Portugal
Following our previous episode about Egypt, we are thrilled to present the 8th episode of Football Transfer Markets – Portugal related to Portuguese transfer market covered by Pedro Azevedo Branco, legal counsel of FC Porto. This episode touches the professional football regulations in Portugal.
The following topics are discussed:
- The existing system of domestic training compensation system and solidarity mechanism
- Transfer structuring common for Portuguese football transfer market
- Discussion about the enforceability or recommendation about the “Standard Contract Form”
- Other legal matters related to Portugues football
This episode highlights the existing issues existing in the training rewards system at a local level and the development processing.
Join us as we explore these essential topics to gain a comprehensive understanding of the Portuguese football transfer market. Watch the episode now to uncover exclusive knowledge straight from an industry practitioner. For convenience, the episode is also available on Spotify and Apple podcast.
Portugal uses a dual system for training compensation. The rules differ between league-regulated and federation-regulated transfers. Inside the league, clubs can claim up to 20 times the player’s proposed annual salary. This approach rewards clubs that invest in youth development.
For transfers outside the league, the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) sets fixed compensation based on club tiers. The amounts range from €30,000 to €90,000. Only FPF-certified clubs qualify for these payments. This rule ensures that real training entities—not just paper clubs—receive compensation.
Pedro stressed the importance of certification. Without it, clubs lose access to these financial protections.
The episode also covered Portugal’s flexible transfer fee structures. Top-tier clubs usually use fixed fees. Smaller clubs often rely on sell-on clauses, economic rights, or buy-back options. Pedro pointed out that buy-back clauses can raise concerns under third-party influence (TPI) rules. However, right-of-first-refusal clauses remain acceptable if drafted carefully.
To explore more details, watch the full episode.
