5 Reasons Why Soccer Players Get Loaned To Other Clubs

Like other sports, soccer sees many players come in and out the door.

During the transfer windows, clubs tend to bring in new faces to improve the squad.

But as a result, they will likely let other players move to other clubs in what is called a loan.

However, what exactly is a loan move?

Plus, why do soccer players get loaned to other clubs?

Here in this post, I answer both of those questions while also giving you the 5 main reasons on why this happens in the sport.

Table of Contents

What Exactly Is A Loan In Soccer?

A loan move in soccer is when a player transfers to another club on a temporary basis.

Now you have many types of deals that occur between clubs when players are involved. However, the main two consists of:

Transfer
Loan

A transfer involves a player going to a club for a fee. This means that the club is acquiring the rights to them and now has ownership of them.

However, a loan move works slightly different, as while like a transfer, the player moves to another club.

They aren’t owned by them, as just like a loan you would for money, the club will have to give the player back at the agreed date.

So when talks for a loan transfer are two clubs will come together and instead of talking about how much money the club wants for the player.

Instead, they will discuss how long the player will stay at the club, whether its a 6 month, 1 year or more deal.

As well as the percentage of wages the clubs will pay.

While the parent club will be in charge of the wages, deals are made where the club loaning the player will pay a percentage of it, or even sometimes all of it.

So now you have a good idea of what exactly a loan move is, let’s get into why soccer players are loaned out.

1) To Give Them Experience

Now the first reason is to give them experience.

Clubs like to do this so that players can get some experience of the game at a high level.

While players may have the talent to succeed at a club, they may not be mature enough or ready to start challenging for a first-team place.

This happens a lot among the top leagues with youngsters who aren’t quite ready to break into the first team, going out to other clubs to get experience.

If a club has this motive in mind, its likely that the player is young.

So this would include players between 16-25 who have either been brought from other clubs as investments.

Or have made their way through the club’s academy, however, could do with some experience before making a real pursuit for that first eleven.

2) To Increase The Players Value And To Gain Interest

Soccer is one big business in which most football clubs see their assets as investments.

When clubs go to buy footballers, they are investing in them to help that club earn more money.

Whether that be from trophies or through their brand getting them ticket and shirt sales.

However, what clubs are smart to do is they will send players on loan to get more eyes on them and increase that player’s value.

For example, if a premier league club sent out some young player to another team that was struggling.

That player then went on to have a stellar season, helping them stay up through excellent performances.

Well, clubs and scouts will notice that and put in bigger offers as they see the potential for that player.

While the club will of already valued that player for them to be on the books already.

Them getting more attention while also putting in good performances.

Of course, this can work in both ways, as young players can go out on loan only to struggle to make a mark.

However, when it does work for a club, they can make millions from just one player.

3) Player Is Unhappy But Club Don’t Want To Sell Them

A player not being happy can also be another reason for a club to loan him.

Now with how complicated contracts can be and clubs trying to get the best value out of players.

Some clubs, therefore, will not sell a player unless they get the price they want for him.

So while a player might want to leave, a club might not allow it.

Now, if they are unhappy, whether that be because they want a new challenge.

Doesn’t like the stifling atmosphere or just it being personal issues, then a loan move can be the right move.

It allows the player to play for another club while the parent club keeps ownership of them.

A good example was last season with Radja Naingolan, who was under contract with Inter Milan.

But because of family issues, he wanted to move to Cagliari for his ill wife.

Inter Milan loaned him out since they didn’t want to sell him, leaving both parties happy.

4) Trying To Offload Wages

As we spoke about in previous reasons, one of the contributing factors towards players going on loan is money.

So due to this, clubs will loan players to reduce wages within the club.

Like I mentioned earlier, a percentage can be negotiated with the club that wants to have the player playing for them will then contribute to them.

The scale goes from 0 to 100, so you could have a 50/50 split where both pay half.

Or you could even have a case where the loanee club is paying all the wages.

As you can imagine, such moves can take the pressure of a club, especially if they are trying to loan a player of who is on big wages.

5) Too Much Competition For Places

The last one, which is a very common reason for players going on loan, is the competition within a club.

When there is so much depth, it means players will inevitably miss out on playing often and may find themselves playing much less than they want.

I have seen this happen at many of the top clubs, where you have talented players who can’t even touch the 18.

Let alone the starting 11.

Manchester United is a good example of having star individuals like Juan Mata and Jesse Lingard who would get into most premier league teams apart from their own.

So, as a result, players will discuss with the club options on them going on loan, just so they can get some game time.

While players want to get paid lots of money, most of them do enjoy playing.

Conclusion

So there you have it; those are 5 reasons why soccer players get loaned to other clubs.

Do let me know if you have any thoughts or questions on this below 🙂