The general rules after January 1 are as follows (assuming footballers are considered skilled workers, which isn't obvious from the wording):
Skilled workers
The points-based system will include a route for skilled workers who have a job offer from an approved employer sponsor.
From January 2021, the job you’re offered will need to be at a required skill level of
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(equivalent to A level). You’ll also need to be able to speak English and be paid the relevant salary threshold by your sponsor. This will either be the general salary threshold of £25,600 or the going rate for your job, whichever is higher.
If you earn less than this - but no less than £20,480 - you may still be able to apply by ‘trading’ points on specific characteristics against your salary. For example, if you have a job offer in a
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or have a PhD relevant to the job.
Details of how the points system will work are in the
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.
There will not be a general route for employers to recruit at or near the minimum wage.
If you’re not already a licensed sponsor and you think you’ll want to sponsor migrants through the skilled worker route from January 2021, you should .
Global talent scheme
The will be opened up to EU, EEA and Swiss citizens. It will allow highly-skilled scientists and researchers to come to the UK without a job offer.
There's a huge number of hoops a footballer needs to jump though - not least of which is establishing what is the going rate for the job. Whether the skill level equates to RQF3 or not is another interesting one. It could be that footballer don't fit into this matrix at all, and they're going to have to have a special scheme for the,