Letter calls for ban on agents recruiting under-18s

A reader argues that protecting young footballers means stopping agents from signing them before they turn 18.

C. Murray

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What happened. In a letter to The Guardian, Phil Murray responded to recent articles about the precarious path talented young athletes face, arguing that agents should be banned from recruiting players under 18. He highlighted that only a tiny proportion of young footballers signed by top-flight clubs at a very young age go on to achieve a Premier League career, with most dismissed at 16 or 17.

• Murray says the odds should be a reality check for parents and guardians of aspiring athletes.
• He cites Jonathan Liew's piece on Raheem Sterling and Jacob Steinberg's report on Arsenal's Dowman.
• The letter calls for minimising risks to young football players by banning under-18 recruitment.

“To minimise the risks to young football players we should ban agents recruiting under-18s”

— Phil Murray

The letter adds to the debate on youth football pathways and agent involvement in recruiting minors.

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R. SterlingArsenal

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