Annexe 4 of the FIFA Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players (RSTP) governs the calculation of training compensation and remains one of the trickiest topics that consistently proves difficult for candidates sitting the FIFA Agent Exam. The 2026 FIFA Agent Exam was no different. While it is relatively straightforward for candidates to understand the core principles behind training compensation calculations, applying them accurately under tense exam conditions with limited time is an entirely different challenge. This has proven to be the Achilles heel for many candidates and is precisely why FIFA favours this topic; they know that more than 50% of candidates will likely drop marks on it. Read why so many students failed the 2026 FIFA agent exam and how to guarantee passing the 2027 exam.

In this article, we cover the calculation of training compensation, when payment of training compensation is not required, the standard FIFA training compensation table and an example on how to calculate training compensation.

What is Training Compensation?

Training compensation is a payment made to the club or clubs that invested in training and developing a player between the ages of 12 and 23. Training compensation is governed by Article 20 and Annexe 4 of the FIFA Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players (RSTP) and it exists to reward clubs for the costs of training incurred up to the age of 21, unless it can be seen that the player has terminated his training period before the age of 21. 

When Is Training Compensation Payable?

Under Article 20 and Annexe 4 of the FIFA Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players (RSTP), the obligation to pay training compensation is triggered in two specific circumstances:

1. First Professional Contract: When a player is registered for the very first time as a professional
2. Subsequent International Transfers: Each time a professional player is transferred internationally up until the end of the calendar year of their 23rd birthday.

Exceptions: When Payment Is Not Required

You do not need to pay training compensation if any of the following conditions are met:

1. The former club terminates the player’s contract without just cause.
2. The player is transferred to a Category 4 club.
3. A professional player reacquires amateur status upon transfer
4. The player is a female footballer. Note: Training compensation does not apply to female/women’s football. 

Calculation of Training Compensation.

On how to calculate training compensation is where most candidates lose marks. Calculation of training compensation requires attention to detail on four variables: 

1. Age of the player: For seasons between the player’s age of 12th and 15th birthdays, the calculation always uses the category 4 training cost regardless of the actual club category. For seasons from the 16th birthday to 23rd birthdays, the training cost of the new club is used.
2. Number of training years. Generally, the basic formula for the calculation of training compensation is the number of training years multiplied by the indicative training costs. The indicative training cost is determined by the club’s Category (Category I, II, III, or IV) and the club’s confederation. 
3. Category of the club. The training costs are established on a confederation basis for each club category  (FIFA), meaning UEFA sets its own figures, CAF sets its own, CONMEBOL sets its own, and so on. In terms of categorization of clubs, FIFA classifies clubs into four categories: Category I – IV, with Category I being the highest and Category IV the lowest. These categories matter because they determine the annual training cost figure used to calculate how much compensation a club is owed. So the same category can carry a different cost depending on which confederation the club belongs to.
4. Association of the Club. Where is the player moving from? Is it from one club to another inside the territory of the EU/EEA?

Generally, to calculate the amount of training compensation payable, multiply the training costs of the new club by the number of years of training. For the training costs for the calendar years of the player’s 12th to 15th birthdays, you use the Category 4 indicative cost of the new club. But there is an exception. When a player moves from one association to another inside the territory of the EU/EEA, the calculation of training compensation will be adjusted based on the following scenarios:

1. Move from a lower to a higher category club: The calculation is based on the average training costs of the new club and the former club.
2. Move from a higher to a lower category club: The calculation is based on the training costs of the lower-category club.

FIFA Training Compensation Table

This table below is the FIFA training compensation table and it shows the annual training costs per category for each confederation. 

Confederation	Category I	Category II	Category III	Category IV
AFC	N/A	USD 40,000	USD 10,000	USD 2,000
CAF	N/A	USD 30,000	USD 10,000	USD 2,000
Concacaf	N/A	USD 40,000	USD 10,000	USD 2,000
CONMEBOL	USD 50,000	USD 30,000	USD 10,000	USD 2,000
OFC	N/A	USD 30,000	USD 10,000	USD 2,000
UEFA	EUR 90,000	EUR 60,000	EUR 30,000	EUR 10,000

The training costs are updated periodically in accordinance with annexe 4 of FIFA RSTP and candidates must be familiar with the standard values.

Example of the Calculation of Training Compensation

Here is a practical example of calculation of training compensation drawn from FIFA agent exam question:

Sadiku Bamba, born in 2001, was registered as an amateur with Foot Dakar, a Senegalese Category 4 club, for the full years of 2017, 2018 and 2019. He then moved to Goree, a Category 3 club in Senegal, for the full years of 2020 and 2021. In September 2022, he registered for the first time as a professional with Al-Malakia, a Saudi Arabia Category 3 club. How much training compensation is payable to Foot Dakar and Goree.

The options given are as follows:

• A) Goree USD 40,000, Foot Dakar USD 18,000.
• B) Goree USD 20,000, Foot Dakar USD 6,000.
• C) Goree USD 20,000, Foot Dakar USD 30,000.
• D) Goree USD 40,000, Foot Dakar USD 6,000.

How to Calculate Training Compensation in Under 3 Minutes: The BallBusiness Step-by-Step Guide

Step	Action Required	Application to Bamba
Step 1: Identify the Trigger	Determine whether training compensation is owed.	Yes. Bamba registered as a professional for the first time with Al-Malakia in September 2022.
Step 2: Identify the Jurisdiction	Determine the confederations involved and whether the EU/EEA exception applies.	The move is from CAF (Foot Dakar and Goree) to AFC (Al-Malakia). The EU/EEA exception does not apply.
Step 3: Determine the Training Costs.	Check indicative training cost of the new club’s category per year of training.	Al-Malakia is an AFC Category 3 club. The indicative training cost is USD 10,000 per year. Foot Dakar is Category 4, with an indicative cost of USD 2,000 per year. Goree is Category 3, with an indicative cost of USD 10,000 per year.
Step 4: Determine the Training Years	Count the number of years each club trained the player, covering ages 12 to 23.	Bamba was born in 2001. His years at Foot Dakar (2017, 2018 and 2019) correspond to his 16th, 17th and 18th birthdays, totalling 3 years. His years at Goree (2020 and 2021) correspond to his 19th and 20th birthdays, totalling 2 years.
Step 5: Calculate	Multiply the number of training years at each club by the applicable indicative cost.	Goree: 2 years x USD 10,000 = USD 20,000.  Foot Dakar: 3 years x USD 2,000 = USD 6,000.

The correct answer is therefore option C.

Final Thoughts

Mastering the calculation of training compensation requires repeated practice with different confederations, club categories, and age ranges, as well as a solid understanding of the FIFA table, exceptions, and the ability to apply them under exam pressure. Knowing the rules is one thing; applying them accurately under exam conditions is another thing entirely. Check the BallBusiness YouTube channel for a visual breakdown of the training compensation calculation.

You can also enrol in the BallBusiness Preparatory Course for a detailed, step-by-step walkthrough of training compensation calculation, covering multiple scenarios, including this one.

To join our 2027 Aspiring Agents Group, where you can gain free access to resources, materials, and practice questions while learning alongside hundreds of other candidates preparing for the same exam, click the link below. https://chat.whatsapp.com/HB8iSlwLfHK5ZTwiS2vStP?s=cl&p=a&mlu=0&ilr=0