Under-24 player compensation explained as Leeds United set to sign Sonny Perkins on a ‘free’

Leeds United look set to confirm signing number seven in the coming days, according to Fabrizio Romano, after Sonny Perkins completed his medical and signed personal terms with the club. The 18-year-old left West Ham in bitter circumstances in July, with the Hammers releasing a statement expressing their discontent over the player’s decision.

Perkins had been at West Ham since 2019, but only made three senior appearances - one of which was in their 3-2 defeat to Leeds in January. The London club had offered him a new professional deal this summer, but the teenager rejected the offer in a bid for more regular minutes.

He now looks set to sign for Leeds following the end of his contact at the London Stadium, ostensibly on a ‘free’ transfer, although that is not entirely true. The Football League rules state that where a professional player under the age of 24 refuses a new deal in order to move to a different club on a so-called ‘free transfer’ compensation is payable to the club that loses their player.

In many cases, the two involved clubs will find an arrangement in an attempt to avoid a potentially costly and lengthy tribunal. Leeds and Burnley agreed an undisclosed amount for Charlie Taylor in 2017, following the left-back’s move to Turf Moor at the age of 23.

The club may be inclined to lean towards quick arrangement, with the ongoing situation regarding Jean Kevin-Augustin at the Court of Arbitration for Sport, but West Ham’s anger at Perkins’ actions may encourage them to play hardball.

Should the two clubs remain some distance away in terms of their own valuations, the matter will be dealt with through an arbitration process, led by the Professional Football Compensation Committee (PFCC). Their role is to