Your wages
Check the guaranteed gross salary, how often you will be paid, the first payment date and the salary applying in each season.
PFA Northern Ireland • Player guidance
Before you sign…
Understand what you are signing. Your contract is more than your wage—it sets out your rights, responsibilities and protection as a professional player.
The new standard
A contract built around employment rights.
The new Standard Professional Contract was developed following discussions between PFA NI, NIFL clubs and the Irish FA. It applies when clubs register professional players under the Professional Game Player Registration Regulations.
Football is a player’s place of work. Players are entitled to clear terms and the same fundamental employment protections that apply in other workplaces.
June 2026The new Irish FA Standard Professional Contract was introduced.
Before you sign
Six things every player should check.
Do not rely on verbal promises. Make sure every payment, benefit, option and condition you have agreed is written into the contract or the relevant annex.
Bonuses and benefits
Appearance fees, win bonuses, signing-on fees, accommodation, medical insurance and other benefits should be written down clearly, including amounts and payment dates.
Injury protection
Understand your entitlement to wages, treatment, rehabilitation and medical support if you become unavailable to play. Ask for the terms of any insurance policy that applies to you.
Holiday and family leave
The contract provides for statutory holiday entitlement and relevant maternity, paternity, adoption, shared parental and parental bereavement protections, subject to eligibility requirements.
Start, end and options
Confirm the exact start and end dates. Check whether there is an option to extend, who can exercise it and whether any relegation clause applies.
Termination and appeals
Read the termination, disciplinary and grievance provisions. Time limits can be short, so contact PFA NI immediately if a dispute or notice of termination arises.
How the contract works
One agreement. Two essential parts.
Player Registration Key Terms
This is used by the club to register the professional player with the Irish FA. It records the terms specific to you.
- Player and club information
- Status and contract duration
- Salary and payment dates
- Bonuses, incentives and benefits
- Options, relegation clauses and agent details
Terms and Conditions
This contains the detailed employment terms. The club is required to provide it to the player and it must be read with Part 1.
- Player and club obligations
- Pay, injury and medical treatment
- Holiday and family leave
- Disciplinary and grievance procedures
- Termination, appeals and other protections
Agents and representation
Choose your advice carefully.
Good advice and representation can be crucial during negotiations. An agent should help you understand the proposed deal—not pressure you into signing it.
✓Check that the agent is registered with the relevant football association.
✓Only work with an agent you have seen and spoken with.
✓Never pay an agent before signing a contract with a club.
✓Never sign an agent agreement without first seeking independent legal advice.
✓Confirm that the club knows about your trial, proposed signing and the agent involved.
Independent player support
Speak to PFA NI before signing or renewing.
PFA NI can provide important guidance before you sign and can arrange expert advice on contracts, injuries, club fines, unpaid wages and other employment-related issues.
Where a problem arises, PFA NI will normally try to resolve it directly with the club so that the player can concentrate on football. Where necessary and with the player’s agreement, further legal action may be considered.
Quick answers
What players should know.
Should I receive a complete copy of my contract?
Yes. The club confirms that an electronic copy of Parts 1 and 2, together with any option-to-extend agreement or relegation clause, will be provided to the email address recorded in the contract. If you did not receive a copy, request one from the club or directly from the Irish FA.
Can fields in Part 1 be left blank?
No. Part 1 states that all fields are mandatory. If something does not apply, it should be marked “N/A”. Ask for any missing terms to be completed before signing.
How long can a professional contract last?
Part 2 states that the minimum term runs from the effective date to the end of the season and the maximum is five years. A player under 18 cannot sign a professional contract lasting more than three years.
What if I am injured while playing or training?
The detailed terms address pay, medical support and treatment. Where no medical insurance arrangement exists—or it does not cover the full cost—the contract says the club is responsible for reasonable approved treatment costs arising from an injury sustained during training or match play for the duration of the agreement.
Can PFA NI represent me in a grievance or disciplinary process?
The Standard Professional Contract allows a player to be accompanied or represented during a disciplinary or grievance procedure by a PFA NI representative, another member of club staff or a trade union official.
Important: This page is a general player guide and does not replace advice on your individual circumstances. Contract terms, regulations and legal rights can be complex. Contact PFA NI before signing, renewing, terminating or disputing a contract.
Don’t sign until you understand.
Your career is your livelihood. Get independent support before committing to a contract.
Contact PFA NI