If a Young Nigerian footballer was groomed by ECN Academy from age 12 to 18 in Abuja and He signs his first professional contract in Spain in January 2022, and by July 2023, he’s transferred to La Palma FC for $500,000. under FIFA rules, ECN Academy should collect a piece of that action through Training Compensation (TC) and Solidarity Contribution (SC).
But here’s the catch most Nigerian clubs miss:
You have only TWO YEARS to claim your money!
For Training Compensation, it’s 2 years from when he signed his first pro contract.
For Solidarity Contribution, it’s 2 years from when he was transferred and registered by La Palma FC.
And if he had unpaid salaries or contract breaches, as a player, he too has 2 years from when the problem happened to bring a claim to FIFA.
No extra time. No VAR review.
If you miss that 2-year window, even if you have the strongest case, FIFA will not hear you.
So for ECN Academy, the clock started ticking the moment the player was registered at La Palma FC in July 2023. By July 2025, if they haven’t filed their claim, they might as well forget it — the money is gone!
Lesson for Nigerian clubs, academies, and players:
FIFA does not chase you for your rights — you must be sharp and act fast!
Whether you’re expecting unpaid wages, training fees, or your slice of a big transfer, always monitor your former players, track their moves, and be ready to enforce your entitlements.
Because in football business, timing is everything — just like a well-timed through ball.