The UEC proposes new Player Development Reward policy to support clubs investing in talent

Brussels, 12^th May 2025 - The Union of European Clubs (UEC) has unveiled a new strategic policy proposal: the Player Development Reward (PDR)

This policy calls for UEFA to allocate at least 5% of its annual Club Competition revenues to a new financial mechanism that would directly benefit clubs that train and develop the players competing in UEFA Club Competitions, regardless of whether those clubs are participating themselves.

At the UEC, we believe it is not enough to only point out some of the current issues and challenges faced within European football governance, but we must also contribute innovative and concrete solutions. The Player Development Reward is exactly that: a pragmatic, merit-based approach to restoring fairness and balance in the football ecosystem. It was developed over the past six months in close collaboration with our members, discussed at our latest General Assembly, and shared with all clubs for feedback in an open and democratic process.

The concept has already been presented to the European Commission and to key stakeholders across football,  receiving  encouraging initial feedback. While the specific implementation of the policy remains open to discussion, the core principle is clear: clubs that invest in player development should be fairly rewarded when those players contribute to the success of European competitions.

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What is the Player Development Reward?

Under the proposal:

• ‍A minimum of 5% of UEFA Club Competition (UCC) revenues would be set aside each season as a dedicated Player Development Reward
• These funds would be redistributed to clubs based on the minutes played in UEFA competitions and prize money earned by players they have trained and developed
• Only clubs not participating in the UCL League Phase that season would be eligible, ensuring support goes to clubs whose work often goes unrecognised
• Any unallocated amounts would be redistributed among eligible clubs

This proposal is rooted in hard data, with support from Transfermarkt, who provided the necessary analysis of players' development histories and training clubs.

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Why is it needed?

The current system is both outdated and misaligned with the goals of sustainable football:

• ‍FIFA’s transfer solidarity and training compensation mechanisms are unreliable and tied to transfer activity, not actual development success‍
• UEFA solidarity payments currently do not contain any specific club reward based on successful player development

The Player Development Reward addresses these shortcomings by introducing:

• ‍Fairness – linking financial rewards directly to a club’s role in developing top-level talent‍
• Sustainability – offering a new, predictable revenue stream, particularly important for clubs outside the elite‍
• Development incentives – encouraging long-term investment in youth and infrastructure

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What would the impact be?

Simulations based on recent seasons show that nearly 1,500 clubs across Europe would have received PDR payments, from top divisions to sixth-tier teams. Over 400 clubs would have received more than €100,000 each. This policy has the potential to deliver meaningful, long-term financial recognition and reward to clubs that fuel the professional game by developing its talent.

As football continues to evolve, the UEC remains committed to advocating for a fairer, more inclusive ecosystem where every club, regardless of size or budget, has the opportunity to thrive. The Player Development Reward is an important step toward that future.

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