Seven years since Emiliano Sala's death, what has changed for the 'wild west' of football transfers?

Argentine striker Emiliano Sala died in a 2019 plane crash while traveling to join Cardiff City, a tragedy that exposed systemic failures in football transfer procedures and player safety protocols. The accident highlighted how the sport's transfer market operated with minimal oversight—agents working without regulation, unclear financial arrangements, and inadequate safeguards for player welfare. Seven years later, the article examines what reforms have followed in an industry still characterized as a "wild west" by lack of standardization. Major football governing bodies have since implemented stricter agent licensing and financial disclosure requirements, though critics argue enforcement remains inconsistent across leagues and countries. Sala's death marked a turning point that forced conversations about accountability in transfers, though the sport continues to grapple with balancing commercial interests against player protection.