Solidarity payments are those that occur when a football player is still in contract but is transferred between two clubs belonging to different associations, it means case of an international transfer.

Clubs pay transfer fees, and up to five percent (5 %) of this fee is withheld to be used as the solidarity payment.

Solidarity payments are distributed to all clubs that trained the player between his 12^th and 23^rd birthdays at a proportional rate developing on how long the player was at each club.

With regard to the method of distribution, Annexe 5, Article 1 RSTP continues as follows:

• Season of 12th birthday: 5% (i.e. 0.25% of total compensation);
• Season of 13th birthday: 5% (i.e. 0.25% of total compensation);
• Season of 14th birthday: 5% (i.e. 0.25% of total compensation);
• Season of 15th birthday: 5% (i.e. 0.25% of total compensation);
• Season of 16th birthday: 10% (i.e. 0.5% of total compensation);
• Season of 17th birthday: 10% (i.e. 0.5% of total compensation);
• Season of 18th birthday: 10% (i.e. 0.5% of total compensation);
• Season of 19th birthday: 10% (i.e. 0.5% of total compensation);
• Season of 20th birthday: 10% (i.e. 0.5% of total compensation);
• Season of 21st birthday: 10% (i.e. 0.5% of total compensation);
• Season of 22nd birthday: 10% (i.e. 0.5% of total compensation);
• Season of 23rd birthday: 10% (i.e. 0.5% of total compensation).

Solidarity payment do not stop at the player’s 23^rd birthday (like training compensation payments do) but continue through the course of the player’s professional career each time he is transferred while under contract.

Transfer fees are usually not disclosed bud can be in the millions, so solidarity payments will vary.

But to recap, solidarity payments are determined by:

• Withholding 5 % of the transfer fee; and
• Dividing that amount proportionally among all club the player trained at between the ages of 12 and 23

For example, using player Vladimír COUFAL in the above example, when he was transferred from Czech club, SK SLAVIA, to a club in Great Britaion, WEST HAM, while still under contract with the club with club SK SLAVIA, the WEST HAM will pay a transfer fee. If that transfer fee according to tranfermarkt.eu is equivalent to 6 million USD, then 5 % is set aside (equivalent to 400.000 EUR). Player’s first academy (where he spent 8 years and 7 months) would receive 237.500 EUR and second academy (where he spent 3 moths) would receive 7.500 EUR.