African players will be “more attractive” to European clubs now the Africa Cup of Nations will take place in the summer, say leading agents.
The tournament, held every two years, is being moved to June and July from January and February.
Previously, Premier League clubs were among those who faced losing players mid-season for several weeks.
“It’ll make my job easier as an agent. Clubs use it as an excuse not to sign African players,” said Papa Agyemang.
Changes to the competition, which will increase from 16 to 24 teams, were approved by the Confederation of African Football (Caf) at a conference in Morocco.
Players have previously been caught between duty for their national team and clubs that employ them.
“They will become more attractive because teams won’t be thinking about losing them every two years,” said Agyemang.
Saif Rubie, another agent who specialises in brokering deals for African players, said the tournament’s timing had a bearing on transfer deals.
“Some clubs 100% told me they would not bring in a player if they were tied to the Cup of Nations. Now it will mean they don’t have that concern,” said Rubie, who is also the agent of former Chelsea and Ghana coach Avram Grant.
“The flip side is they will be playing in the summer, so could be late for the start of the season though it’s better to have a player missing part of August than most of January and February.
“I believe it will mean a player has more of a chance of being signed as opposed to under the old schedule.”
Former Cameroon goalkeeper Joseph Antoine Bell believes the switch is not being made to satisfy European clubs but makes sense.
“It is good for our players, our people and the game,” he told BBC World Service.
“You cannot keep saying players should come to play for their home team while they are being paid by somebody else.”
AFC Wimbledon’s Ghana striker Kwesi Appiah said the current scheduling placed some players in a difficult position.
“I would never have had that problem myself, but you probably do get some players who pull out because they don’t want to leave or upset their club. They don’t want to lose their place in the team,” he said.
“No manager would come out openly and say I don’t want my player to play in this tournament but I’m sure there is some pressure behind closed doors.”
BBC Sports