Should a Brexit vote be successful when the referendum ends on Thursday, "there will be a number of possible consequences that would greatly affect the Premier League and, as a result, European and world football as a whole," according to Kieran Maguire of GOAL. A Brexit vote "is likely to cause the sterling (£) to be weaker due to uncertainty" about how the U.K. would negotiate future trade deals. There will also be "less investment from overseas companies" taking advantage of the U.K.’s access to the free EU trade market. This would "increase the price of signing players from overseas for Premier League clubs." A further issue would arise if the U.K. government applies tariffs to signings of player registrations, "although this is one of many government decisions that would take a number of years to be applied." A Brexit vote "would at the same time make it cheaper for non-Premier League clubs to buy players" from the U.K. The Premier League is presently "very attractive to foreign investors," with 14 clubs having total or substantial ownership from abroad. The "good news for such investors is that a Brexit vote would make EPL clubs cheaper to buy, assuming the sterling falls in value." A "new breed" of investor, who can see financial profit as well as "the kudos and glory of owning a club, has been attracted to the Premier League." If the potential profits of buying and selling a team "were to fall due to a weakening of the sterling, this could deter investment." At present, about 65% of Premier League players are from overseas. English clubs are currently free to sign any players with an E.U. passport "because of freedom of movement of labour rules." What will happen if a Brexit vote arises in relation to movement of labor "is a huge unknown" (GOAL, 6/22).
