Football Medical: A Look Into the Gruelling Steps of Vetting a Player Before Sealing a Transfer

• Football transfers have always been subject to a medical, which is arguably the most gruelling part of the deal
• Having a medical can be a delicate process, and failure to pass could lead to a collapse of the deal altogether
• But what exactly does a medical entail in football? Sports Brief takes a look

When it comes to football transfers, nothing is as crucial as the player’s physical examination.

A ‘medical’, as it is popularly known, is the final stage of the transfer before a player is deemed fit to make a move from one club to another.

The physical demands of the sport of football mean players usually have to be in top shape all year round, and a slight mishap in the medical could significantly hamper a transfer.

A player has to pass his medical with flying colours for a transfer to be completed and according to Dave Fevre, a member of the Football Medical Association, it is almost like ‘buying a second-hand car’.

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As reported on Four Four Two, Fevre revealed that clubs, especially those buying the player, are wary of the risk involved in taking up the services of someone who has been subjected to the wear and tear that comes with playing for another club.

“When you look at the amount of money paid for players it’s really in the club’s benefit to ensure to the best of your ability that what you’re getting is in good working order,” he said.

How is a medical done?

Contrary to popular belief, every club has their unique way of handling medicals for potential new signings.

However, fundamental steps are usually taken to assess a player’s physical wellness, and in modern times, the cardiovascular system has come to the forefront.

“Since Fabrice Muamba's heart attack, clubs are even more diligent about checking any heart irregularities. Players up to the age of 24 will ideally have annual checks to detect any heart-related issues,” Fevre explained.

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In a nutshell, the key areas of focus during a medical are:

Heart and health

Heart health is mainly determined through cardiac screening

Musculoskeletal stability

This is in a bid to determine the weak spots in the player’s body and overall skeletal structure. Medics are mostly on the lookout for lower back issues which can easily lead to hamstring problems.

Isokinetic issues

Another crucial focus in a player’s medical is how the muscle groups work together. If a player has isokinetic issues it could mean he may be having a challenge with a previous injury that has not fully recovered.

Deep scanning

A player with a detected underlying issue will be subjected to an ultrasound scan which will assess the majority of muscles and joints.

Body fat score

A player’s body fat scorer is also determined through the Biometric Impedance technology; a device used to determine lean tissue and fat.

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What else is checked?

A player will also be subjected to a sprint test, and results will be used by the manager to determine whether there is a need for additions in specific areas of the field.

For some players, thorough examinations are required and this will entail little details like their visual, hearing and dental tests.

Other factors during medicals

Sometimes, other factors can come into play when it comes to a player passing his medical.

The season of the transfer is particularly interesting to consider, as during the winter transfer window, clubs usually have their guards higher up when it comes to buying players.

This is because January transfer windows typically involve clubs wanting to buy or bring players on loan who can hit the ground running, hence they need to be in near-perfect physical shape.

Clubs also tend to lean towards signing players with more minutes on the pitch, as this directly correlates to their fitness levels.

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As Fevre explains, “You’ll look to sign players who have consistently played, and it's then up to you to provide the manager with an assessment of where they are physically and what additional work may be needed to get them up to full fitness.”

Ziyech speaks on alleged failed medical

Sports Brief also reported on Hakim Ziyech’s alleged failed medical ahead of a move to Al Nassr.

Ziyech broke his silence on Tuesday, July 4 with a cheeky message amid claims his move to Saudi Arabia collapsed.

The Moroccan will have to stay at Chelsea if he fails to seal a move before the close of the transfer window.