Transfer Targets: Europe and the World
Andy Watson from the GBE Expert Hub identifies oversea targets for clubs in all three leagues - PLUS a primer in how GBE/ESC is shaping EFL transfers.
Words: Andy Watson (GBE Expert Hub)
Coventry City are flying towards the Premier League, and one of their key players, Victor Torp, was a smart piece of January overseas recruitment in 2024.
Cardiff City are flying back towards the Championship. One of their key players, Yousef Salech, was a smart piece of January overseas recruitment in 2025.
Non-domestic recruitment – and good non-domestic recruitment – didn’t end with Brexit. But it has changed.
Many of you will already be familiar with the GBE and ESC initialisms, through either my occasional articles on NTT20.COM, a working knowledge of recruitment, or playing Football Manager. Even so, the framework remains niche and often misunderstood. A short glossary, then, before we get to the transfers.
Governing Body Endorsement (GBE): The UK work-permit framework adopted by The FA after Brexit.
GBE Points: A scoring system within GBE. Players need 15 points to qualify unless they meet automatic international criteria.
GBE Banding: A ranking of global leagues by strength. Higher bands award more points, making qualification easier.
Elite Significant Contribution (ESC): A GBE add-on allowing clubs to sign non-domestic players who fall short of the points threshold but meet specific alternative criteria.
ESC Slots: The number of ESC players a club can register – four in the Championship, two in League One and two in League Two.
ESC Conversion: After 12 months and sufficient minutes played, an ESC player can be moved out of an ESC slot, freeing space for another signing.
There is more nuance to these rules than a short glossary can capture. For readers who want a deeper understanding, including how GBE and ESC have been used historically in January across the EFL, a full primer sits at the bottom of this article.
Transfer Targets: Europe and the World
My task here is a simple one: to present a list of names from overseas who may be a good fit for EFL sides. However, real life is not Football Manager, and to ensure my selections are as realistic as possible, I have tried to impose some order on the situation by looking at clubs who:
have shown a willingness to dip into oversea markets previously;
have some budget to spend;
and, pertinently, have areas in their squad to strengthen in order to achieve their season goals.
Championship
Middlesbrough
In the second tier, there is ultimately one objective: Premier League football. At the time of writing, Middlesbrough occupy the crucial second automatic promotion spot.
Boro are a club long associated with overseas recruitment. That history stretches from Juninho’s first arrival on Teesside and beyond. Middlesbrough’s foreign recruitment lineage is extensive, and that familiarity with the international market remains part of the club’s identity.
Crucially, Middlesbrough have multiple ESC slots available, which materially widens their recruitment options. Hellberg is currently operating with a 4-2-2-2 shape, and one obvious area for reinforcement is the inside-left role. That position has recently been filled out of necessity, while Riley McGree’s ongoing fitness concerns add further risk. An elite addition here could be the difference in a promotion race that will likely be decided on fine margins.
