The Premier League outlawed third-party ownership of players in 2007.
We need to be satisfied that any player joining a Premier League club has no third-party interests in his registration rights in order for him to be formally registered.
We believe that the practice threatens the integrity of competitions, reduces the flow of transfer income into the sport and has the potential to exert external influence on player transfer decisions.
A club need to own 100 per cent of a player's registration and so-called "economic rights" cannot be split out.
Also in this series
Part 1: What is the deal sheet in transfers?
Part 2: How do clubs begin the process of completing a player transfer?
Part 3: What is the Premier League's role in transfers?
Part 4: What is FIFA's Transfer Matching System?
Part 5: How does the work-permit process work for transfers?
Part 7: Is a fax machine used for transfers?
Part 8: How many loans are allowed by Premier League clubs?