Premier League clubs can sign up to four players who fail to meet the Home Office’s requirements for visas, in new rules announced by the FA.

The old rules saw Premier League teams unable to sign any players who failed to meet the Governing Body Endorsement (GBE) points threshold.

That points total was based on the senior and youth international appearances for the incoming player, the quality of the selling club and the standard of league they come from, as well as the number of career minutes.

Failure to meet that threshold meant the UK Government would block the transfer.

However, new rules have said that Premier League clubs can sign up to four players who fail to meet the standard.

Championship clubs will also be allowed four players, while League One and League Two clubs get two of these signings.