Brasileirão clubs approve gradual cut to foreign-player limit from 2027 | OneFootball

The clubs competing in the Brazilian Championship’s Série A and Série B approved an important change this Monday, in Rio de Janeiro, regarding the use of foreign players. Starting in 2027, the maximum number of players from other countries listed for each match will begin to be gradually reduced. The measure aims to expand the space available for Brazilian players, especially those developed in youth academies.

The proposal presented by the CBF sets out a phased reduction over the coming years. The limit, which currently allows up to nine foreign players in a matchday squad, will drop to eight in 2027. The number will continue to decrease gradually until it reaches five players per match in 2030.

Photo: Thiago Ribeiro / Staff Images / CBF

The phased implementation was designed to lessen the impact of the change on clubs, mainly because of contractual agreements already in force. Among the teams that took part in the vote, Bahia and Flamengo opposed the proposal.

In addition to the issue of foreign players, the clubs also approved a change related to squad composition. The goal is to increase the presence of younger players in the Brazilian Championship. To that end, starting next year, each team will be allowed to register up to 50 players in the competition, but must reserve at least 20 of those spots for players aged 23 or under.

The rule will also be introduced gradually. The plan is that, by 2030, half of the spots will be allocated to players of any age, while the other half will be reserved for players under 23. In this way, the planning aims to progressively increase the participation of young players in professional squads.

The average age of players featuring in the Brasileirão was also part of the CBF’s analysis. The league currently has an average age of 28.5, a figure higher than that recorded in some of Europe’s top leagues. In Spain, the average is 27, while France and Italy post figures of 26 and 26.1, respectively.

In the federation’s assessment, the more frequent presence of experienced players has been contributing to reducing the space available to players still in development. The CBF believes that the greater use of already established foreign players may end up making it harder for young Brazilians to break into professional football.

According to a survey presented by the federation, this trend has gained momentum since 2023. That year, the foreign-player limit was increased to seven players, and since then, foreign athletes have logged more minutes on the pitch, while the participation of young Brazilian players has seen what was described as a significant decline.

The CBF’s concern is that fewer opportunities could directly affect the development of new players in the country. The federation points to the risk of a reduction in the number of players produced by Brazilian football if young players continue to find less room in professional teams.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.