ATHLETES · RELOCATION
Moving club, moving country: a relocation guide for athletes and their families
A transfer can move a player across Europe in days. Homes, schools, visas, cars and settling the family: a practical relocation guide for athletes, agents and clubs.
Published 10 November 2026 · ATLAS MAISON editorial team
- Timing
- Transfers can close in days; the family move takes longer
- First week
- A furnished home, a car and the training ground route
- Family
- Schools, a nanny and a doctor before anything else
- Paperwork
- Visas, registration and bank accounts, in the right order
- Discretion
- Addresses and routines kept private
A transfer can be agreed in an afternoon. The player is training with a new team within days, while the family is still in another country with a house to close, children in school and a life to pack. The way the move is handled in those first weeks shapes how quickly everyone settles, on the pitch and at home.
The first days
A furnished apartment or house close to the training ground, a car with a driver for the first week, a working phone line and a simple map of the essentials: gym, physiotherapist, pharmacy, a good restaurant. The player’s energy should go to training, not logistics.
Finding a home
The long-term home depends on the family: proximity to schools and the training ground, privacy, outdoor space and security. We shortlist, view on video, negotiate through licensed agents and arrange furniture, staff and utilities, so the family moves into a home that is ready.
Schools and family
International school places are limited, especially mid-year. Early applications, assessments and visits matter, as does a nanny, a family doctor and activities that help the children make friends quickly. Partners often need the most support: a new language, a new city and a schedule built around the club.
Visas and paperwork
Work permits and residence, registration, tax numbers, bank accounts and car imports all follow an order, and the order varies by country. We coordinate with the club, the agent and licensed advisers so that nothing waits on a missing document.
Privacy and security
Addresses, routines and children’s schools are kept private. Where needed, security is provided by licensed firms and coordinated by us. Read more about our athlete concierge and relocation service.
Relocating after a transfer: questions
How quickly can a player be housed after a transfer?
Usually within days in a furnished apartment or house near the training ground, while the long-term home is found.
Do you work with agents and clubs?
Yes. We coordinate with the player’s agent and the club’s player-care team, and can be engaged by either.
Can you find international school places mid-year?
We apply early and widely, arrange assessments and visits, and plan alternatives. Places are never guaranteed, especially mid-year.
Do you handle visas and work permits?
We coordinate the process with the club and licensed immigration advisers. Decisions remain with the authorities.