European League of Football cancels transfer agreement with AFVD - Commissioner Esume: "Every impulse from our side was blocked"

The officials of the European League of Football (ELF) have cancelled the agreement concluded with the American Football Association Germany (AFVD) at the beginning of the year regarding the transfer of players from the GFL to the ELF with immediate effect. Commissioner Patrick Esume came to this decision after a meeting with AFVD President Fuad Merdanovic on Tuesday evening.

"It has become clear that this agreement only benefited one side - namely the AFVD. We have repeatedly reached out over the past few months and were open to talks in order to develop our sport together and take it forward. But nothing came back, every suggestion, every impulse from our side was rejected and blocked. This is no way to work together. But that's not all, the association has repeatedly parted ways with coaches because they have joined ELF teams", says Commissioner Esume. 

In the upcoming 2025 season, there will therefore no longer be a transfer agreement between the European League of Football and the AFVD. This means that players from clubs in the GFL can join ELF teams at any time without fear of a transfer ban. The decision lies solely with the players.

ELF officials are following the AFVD's decision regarding Shuan Fatah with great interest. The head coach of the German national football team announced in mid-September that he would be coaching the ELF team Hamburg Sea Devils in the upcoming season. There he will once again work side by side with offensive coordinator Lee Rowland, who the AFVD did not retain after moving to Berlin Thunder last summer, as well as Nadine Nurasyid, who joined Stuttgart Surge.

"It is unacceptable for the association to part ways with well-trained coaches just because they decide to work in the ELF. A large part of the German national team's roster is made up of ELF players and if Shuan Fatah has to pack his bags after Lee Rowland and Nadine Nurasyid, there will be resistance from the players. They have already stood up for their head coach and made it clear to the federation that they want to keep their head coach", says Commissioner Esume.