BBC Sport outlines Premier League academy regulations after Arsenal winger Max Dowman scored twice in an EFL Cup win and Manchester United striker JJ Gabriel handed in a transfer request this week.
The minimum age for a senior Premier League appearance is the season a player turns 16 meaning year 11 pupils qualify for selection.
Dowman made his maiden top-flight appearance at 15 last term because his 16th birthday fell later in that school year.
Fellow wingers Ethan Nwaneri and Jeremy Monga also debuted at 15 under the same rule.
Much as Gabriel trained with United's first team regularly he could not feature last season since he turns 16 next month.
Academy categories run from one to four with Category One outfits holding rights to sign players from lower grades for structured compensation.
Youth players bind to clubs upon signing scholarship agreements which pay apprenticeship wages rather than professional salaries.
Professional contracts cannot be offered until the season a player turns 16 and cannot be signed until the 17th birthday.
Some scholars live in digs with local host families when their clubs are far from home.
The argument doing the rounds in Kampala is whether English academies protect development or simply hoard African talent for greener pastures.
Key academy rules at a glance
- Minimum senior debut age: season player turns 16
- Scholarship contracts: apprenticeship model wages
- Professional contracts: offered at 16 signed at 17
- Academy categories: Cat 1 can recruit from Cat 2-4
- Digs system: host families for relocated scholars
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Source: BBC Sport
