Taylor Calms Premier League's Brexit Fears

Premier League clubs will still be able to sign the best foreign players despite the EU Brexit vote, Professional Footballers' Association chief Gordon Taylor has said.

Britain's EU Referendum decision to leave the EU may have an impact on the Premier League, with concerns that the free movement of players across the continent will be limited by tightening work permit regulations in the UK.

Taylor has moved to calm fears that Premier League clubs will have their recruitment options restricted or that European players in England will be forced to leave.

"There is no reason why we still can't recruit the best quality foreign players if they want to come here," Taylor said on Friday.

"It doesn't mean any players have to go back," he added. "We will protect our members whether they are from Europe or the rest of the world."

Last season, 432 players from EU countries were registered to play in the 20-team Premier League, Sky Sports have calculated.

"We are proud of our leagues, which are the most cosmopolitan in the world," Taylor said.

"We have provided more players to internationals to World Cups and the Euros than any other country.

"I think we have our members in all the remaining teams in France and we are proud of that but we have to bear in mind what has happened and how it will impact on the game."

More than 100 players out of the 552 who have taken part in this summer's European Championships are believed to have come from Premier League teams - just under 20% of all the players in action in France.

"Of course, it's not happening overnight, we will look after all our EU members and it's going to be a system of devolvement," added Taylor.

"They are talking about two years, we have the work permit procedure in place which we agree with the Home Office, the governing body, the FA and the Football League."