Yes, but clubs can often get around those rules. But for kids already on the books, they can sign pro terms at 17. It was usually the case that we’d give them a relatively low salary for 2-3 years at 17, and any really good ones would get a new deal at 18. I think, from memory, that they still needed parent / guardian to counter-sign at 17 but at 18 they didn’t.
We’ll see pics of Rio singing his first pro deal later this month. I thought it was Rio we were talking about.
With the other kid, they’ll make up some shit about his family moving to the UK for work / study and then we’ll sign him while he’s here. Those FIFA rules are about preventing trafficking of young, vulnerable kids, when their families come too they tend to turn a blind eye.