Why FIFA's out-of-date rules may have seen West Brom lose millions on Morgan Rogers

West Bromwich Albion could've taken a piece of a record-breaking transfer this summer.

It's been no secret to anyone connected with West Brom that times have been tough financially in recent years.

Stemming back to when Albion were under the ownership of Guochuan Lai, financial worries have continued into the reign of Shilen Patel.

West Brom were of course deducted two points last season for being found to have breached the EFL's Profitability and Sustainability (PSR) rules.

So, cash injections, no matter how big or small, are always welcome at The Hawthorns.

However, the Baggies won't be taking home their share of one major Premier League transfer this summer.

The FIFA rule preventing West Brom from Morgan Rogers cash windfall

West Brom News has recently discussed Morgan Rogers being one of their biggest academy success stories.

Rogers was signed to Albion's academy aged just seven, and spent the best part of a decade developing with the Baggies before signing for Manchester City in 2019.

Of course, he's now blossomed into one of the Premier League's best forwards, and is completing a British-record £117million transfer from Aston Villa to Chelsea.

West Brom almost qualify to take home a chunk of that transfer fee too, but just fall on the wrong side of FIFA's solidarity contribution rules.

As detailed via FIFA's TMS (Transfer Matching System) support website, a training club that had a player between the ages of 12 and 23 can be entitled to five per cent of any compensation paid between two clubs transferring that player.

However, their rules state that this only comes into effect if the transfer is between two clubs affiliated to different member associations (national governing body, i.e. the FA).

The other exception is if the two transferring clubs are part of the same member associations, then at least one of the training clubs is affiliated to a different association.

In Rogers' case, none of his training clubs are affiliated to any other member association other than the FA, and so this rule doesn't apply with this transfer.

Had West Brom have been eligible to receive around 5 per cent of this £117m transfer, then the solidarity pot would've been around £5.85m, and between Man City, Middlesbrough and West Brom they would've shared that money.

The fact these strange member association rules are in place is highly frustrating for West Brom, who should be rewarded for helping to put so much time, effort and investment in Rogers' potential, and eventual record-shattering transfer.

How West Brom would love to have another Rogers-type player coming through their academy now, and in fact, they may have one or two candidates in that respect.

Why Harry Whitwell could be West Brom's Rogers 2.0

Some of Rogers' best traits are his ball-carrying, dribbling and playmaking abilities.

For anyone who has watched 20-year-old attacking midfielder Harry Whitwell in action, those three traits would certainly spring to mind when describing his best qualities too.

As per FotMob, in just one Premier League 2 game against Blackburn Rovers last season, Whitwell completed six dribbles, won 14 duels, played four accurate long balls, created one chance and took four shots on goal, scoring with one of them.

In 174 minutes of FA Cup action last term, the Albion youngster created four chances, completed three dribbles, won 19 duels, won a penalty, made six tackles and 12 recoveries.

So, it certainly looks as though he's got that all-round ability like Rogers does to impact the game at both ends of the pitch, and he could be a real breakout star to watch under James Morrison in 2026-27.