The new FIFA rule change that will impact Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham transfer plans

FIFA will introduce new laws that will impact on the likes of Chelsea and Arsenal in a bid to prevent wealthy clubs across Europe stockpiling senior players and misusing the loan system.

The new rules will apply to players over the age of 21 as FIFA look to help clubs ‘develop young players, promote competitive balance and prevent hoarding’.

The legislation change will be implemented from July 1 and will see clubs only allowed a maximum of eight cross-border loan signings and another eight of their existing squad sent out on temporary moves.

Those numbers change to seven in and seven out for 2023/24, and finally become six in and six out from 2024/25 onwards. The new rules do not affect domestic loans between clubs in the same country, and they don’t apply to homegrown players aged 21 and under.

Chelsea have received criticism for their approach to the loan system over the last decade and have some high-profile examples of players getting limited game-time at Stamford Bridge and being sent out on several loan moves.

Last year, Brazilian winger Lucas Piazon finally left the Blues after just three appearances in ten years. He made seven loan moves during that time to Malaga, Vitesse, Eintracht Frankfurt, Reading, Fulham, Chievo and Rio Ave.

Croatian international midfielder Mario Pašalić exited Stamford Bridge in 2020 having spent six years there and not played for the first team. His loans were to Elche, Monaco, AC Milan, Spartak Moscow and Atalanta.

Ghanaian defender Baba Rahman is another Blues player that has spent extensive time away from Stamford Bridge.

The left-sided player has made just 23 appearances since joining the Blues in a £23.4million move from German club Augsburg in August 2015.

He has spent time out on loan at Schalke 04, Reims, Mallorca, PAOK Salonica and Reading during that period and still had two years remaining on the contract extension he signed in August 2021.