Premier League to clamp down on tapping up of youth players as young as nine by rival clubs
New rules will see phone records and bank details come under the spotlight in attempt to stop illegal deals
THE Premier League will bring in new rules to put an end to illegal transfer deals for young players.
Prem chiefs can even demand phone and bank details to stop bigger clubs tapping up talented youngsters - some who are as young as nine.
The new rules will see every transfer of a player - aged nine to 16 and moving between category one academies - investigated, according to the .
Bosses want to stop illegal payments and benefits such as houses, jobs and cars being offered as part of moves.
Parents will have to sign a contract agreeing to hand over phone records and bank statements - but there is still a fear that cash will be used instead.
There have now been an unprecedented number of complaints into the conduct of the 24 clubs with category one academy status.
RELATED STORIES
A Mirror source said: "There are so many complaints and clubs are increasingly anxious about putting time, effort and a lot of finance into developing youngsters.
"This is to stop the sort of transfer which happens when a kid says he’s fallen out of love with the game, leaves a club and then two days later signs for another club.
"It will also remind parents of their responsibility because, while they are caring, loving and want the best for their kids, sometimes people can come along and try to turn their heads."
There is said to be an unwritten rule between top clubs not to steal the best players but lower Premier League clubs regularly complain that the top clubs are guilty of poaching.
However, some parents will argue that players not only move clubs to join a better team - and that the new rules will see them investigated for no reason.
Another source said some players move clubs "purely because they think another club would be better", whether that's because they don't like the school, the coach or want to be closer to home.