Player contract completion checklist

01 Clarify the parties and representation

First establish who is signing the contract and who is only advising or arranging services.

Transfer the full names and contact details of the player and club from the draft.
Check the club’s legal form, authorised representative and signing authority.
For a minor, record the legal representative and any required participation.
Document an adviser’s or intermediary’s role, authority and remuneration separately from the player contract.
Clarify whether any other person or company is a party or only providing a service.

02 Describe the scope of services precisely

Sporting duties should make the day-to-day expectations clear to both sides.

Record training, match and participation duties as well as preparation and recovery requirements.
Set out availability, absences, injuries and the reporting route for unavailability.
Check that fitness, medical support and sporting development requirements are understandable.
Include travel, media and event duties only to the extent actually agreed.
State who covers equipment, accommodation, travel and other operational costs.

03 Set the term and termination rules

A contract needs clear start and end points and workable rules for early termination.

State the start and end date and, where relevant, the season or competition.
Describe options and extensions with the deadline, form and person entitled to exercise them.
Do not hide ordinary termination, a probation period or other termination routes only in an annex.
Check the practical effect of special termination events such as relegation, promotion, injury, non-registration or a transfer.
Record post-contract duties concerning return, accounts, confidentiality and use of recordings.

04 Make remuneration and bonuses transparent

Fixed pay, variable payments and benefits should form one consistent and verifiable arrangement.

State the amount, due date and payment method of the basic remuneration.
Describe bonuses for appearances, goals, points, promotion, titles or other targets with calculation and due date.
Clarify whether amounts are gross or net and who bears taxes, contributions or costs.
Define benefits such as accommodation, vehicle, meals or insurance by scope, duration and return obligations.
Check bonus conditions against measurable criteria and the correct contract period.

05 Align duties and conduct rules

General clauses should not leave the applicable rules and consequences uncertain.

Review conduct, integrity and communication duties against concrete situations and consequences.
Set out rules for social media, public statements, club appearances and sponsor appearances clearly.
Distinguish reporting, documentation and cooperation duties in case of injury or illness.
Include disciplinary measures, contractual penalties or reductions only where trigger, process and scope are understandable.
Check whether any duties continue after the contract and for how long.

06 Organise ancillary rights and exploitation

Image, name, marketing and exclusivity should be tied to the use, period and scope.

Describe use of name, image, voice and sporting data by purpose, medium, territory and duration.
Check personal sponsors, private advertising contracts and club sponsors for conflicts.
Define exclusivity, approval processes and permitted personal promotion separately.
State who creates, approves, archives and may continue using content after the contract.
Show remuneration or consideration for ancillary rights separately from the basic pay.

07 Include regulations and annexes

References to federations, competitions and internal rules must be accessible and versioned.

Collect every cited federation, competition and club regulation as an annex or clear source.
Check which version and language of each rulebook is intended to apply.
Set out the order of precedence between contract, regulations, club rules and annexes.
Include transfer, registration or release rules only where the specific competition or federation is involved.
Check whether later rule changes apply automatically or only after agreement.

08 Complete the annexes and evidence

The contract file should contain every document referred to on the signing date.

Create an annex list and identify each annex unambiguously in the contract.
Cross-check the remuneration sheet, bonus schedule, service description and relevant rules for conflicts.
Label authorities, medical documents and organisational side agreements separately.
Remove open fields, placeholders, comments and tracked changes before signing.
Record the version and date of every document in the final contract file.

09 Document the signing and completion

The final step determines which version was actually agreed.

Before signing, confirm that all financial points and annexes are final.
Ensure that every required party or authorised representative signs.
Complete the date, place and any required form details.
Give both sides the same complete, legible and unaltered contract version.
Document future amendments and approvals with date, version and signatures.

Player contract completion checklist

Review the contract step by step

01 Clarify the parties and representation

02 Describe the scope of services precisely

03 Set the term and termination rules

04 Make remuneration and bonuses transparent

05 Align duties and conduct rules

06 Organise ancillary rights and exploitation

07 Include regulations and annexes

08 Complete the annexes and evidence

09 Document the signing and completion

What matters legally at completion

Prepare the next documents

Player contract completion checklist

Review the contract step by step

01 Clarify the parties and representation

02 Describe the scope of services precisely

03 Set the term and termination rules

04 Make remuneration and bonuses transparent

05 Align duties and conduct rules

06 Organise ancillary rights and exploitation

07 Include regulations and annexes

08 Complete the annexes and evidence

09 Document the signing and completion

What matters legally at completion

Prepare the next documents

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