Transfer window

Last updated

A transfer window is the period during the year in which a football club can add players to their squad who were previously under contract with another club. Such a transfer is completed by registering the player into the new club through FIFA. "Transfer window" is the unofficial term commonly used by the media for the concept of "registration period" as described in the FIFA Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players. [1] According to the rules, each national football association decides on the time (such as the dates) of the 'window' but it may not exceed 12 weeks. The second registration period occurs during the season and may not exceed four weeks.

Contents

The transfer window of a given football association governs only international transfers into that football association. International transfers out of an association are always possible to those associations that have an open window. The transfer window of the association that the player is leaving does not have to be open.

The window was introduced in response to negotiations with the European Commission. The system had been used in many European leagues before being brought into compulsory effect by FIFA during the 2002–03 season. [2] English football was initially behind the plans when they were proposed in the early 1990s, in the hope that it would improve teams' stability and prevent agents from searching for deals all year around, but by the time it was eventually introduced they had to be persuaded that it would work. [3] However, the exact regulations and possible exceptions are established by each competition's governing body rather than by the national football association. [4]

Current schedules and exceptions

FIFA regulates in general that there shall be two windows, a longer one (max. twelve weeks) in the break between seasons and a shorter one (max. one month) in the middle of a season. The specific periods depend on the league's season cycle and are determined by the national football authorities. [5]

Most major European leagues commence in the second half of the year (e.g. August or September) and stretch over two calendar years to the first half of the next year (e.g. May), resulting in a close season window in the summer ending in August, and a mid-season window in January.

The periods are different when a league runs throughout a single calendar year, as in most Nordic countries due to weather constraints, Major League Soccer due to both weather and competition from other locally popular sports (notably basketball and American football), or as the traditional season in the Southern Hemisphere. The first window generally opens from 1 March until midnight of 30 April, followed by the in-season window from 1 to 31 August.

Pre-season windowMid-season windowAssociations
1 January – 31 March14 July – 13 August (2023)Brazil [6]
5 January – 29 March15 July – 14 AugustJapan [7]
8 January – 31 March15 July – 11 AugustSweden [8]
31 January – 3 April17 July – 2 SeptemberNorway [9]
12 January – 12 March20 June – 19 JulyLithuania [10]
24 January – 12 March1 July – 1 SeptemberUkraine [11] [12]
10 February – 4 May7 July – 4 AugustUnited States and Canada [13] [14]
1 March – 30 April1–31 AugustFinland [15]
1 June – 18 August1–19 JanuaryAlbania [16]
9 June – 31 August1–31 JanuaryIndia [17]
9 June – 1 September1 January – 1 FebruaryScotland [18]
10 June – 31 August18 January – 15 FebruarySwitzerland [19]
10 June – 30 August1 January–3 FebruaryFrance [20]
11 June – 2 September3–31 JanuaryNetherlands [21]
14 June – 1 September1–31 JanuaryEngland [22]
1 July – 1 September (2023)3–31 January (2022)Italy [23] [24] [25] [26]
1 July – 1 September (2023)1–31 January (2022)Germany [26] [27] [28]
1 July – 1 September (2023)1 January – 2 FebruarySpain [29] [26]
1 July – 4 September (2023)Poland [30]
1 July – 6 September (2023)Belgium [30]
26 July – 17 October (2020)Russia [31]
24 July – 15 October3–31 JanuaryAustralia [32]
1 December – 31 January1–30 JuneKenya, Uganda [33]

Although, in England, transfers between clubs in the same league can take place as soon as the last competitive fixtures for the season have been played, many transfers will not be completed until 1 July because many players' contracts expire on 30 June. International transfers into the English leagues (including the Premier League) cannot be made until the window has opened on 17 May. Outside the transfer window, a club may still sign players on an emergency basis, usually if they have no goalkeeper available. Special dispensation from their competition's governing body, for example the Premier League, is required. The transfer window restriction does not apply to clubs in or below the National League division. [34] [35]

If the last day of a transfer window is on a weekend, the deadline can be extended to the following Monday at the request of those involved for business reasons. [36] The first shift of the deadline since its inception took place in summer 2008, when the deadline was extended by 24 hours to fall on Monday 1 September at midnight. [37] [38] The transfer deadline in England was similarly extended to 5 pm 1 September 2009, due to the August Bank Holiday. The German football league announced an extension of the January 2009 deadline to 2 February. [39]

Free agents can be signed by a club at any time during the season, if they had been released by their previous club before the end of the transfer window. [36] A club can request to sign a player on emergency basis, e.g. if several goalkeepers are injured at the same time. [36] Outside the transfer window in England, once seven days have passed following the end of a transfer window, clubs from the English Football League (Regulation 53.3.4) [40] and (provided the player is not registered with a club from any league below the National League division) National League division [41] (Rule 6.6.4) can loan in players i) in the first half of the season, until 5.00pm on the fourth Thursday in November and ii) in the second half of the season, until 5.00pm on the fourth Thursday in March. An existing loan deal can be made permanent at any time outside the transfer window. [42]

The day upon which a window closes is known as transfer deadline day, and is usually one of the busiest days of the window, generating a flurry of transfers, often because a number of interdependent transfers are completed resembling a housing chain, generating much media interest.

Calls to end or reform the transfer window

Steve Coppell, former manager of Reading in England's Premier League, and others have called for the transfer window to be scrapped in favour of the previous system, under which transfers could take place throughout the season other than in the closing weeks. [43] Coppell said that the transfer window breeds panic and encourages "scurrilous" transfer activity adding that "I cannot see the logic in a transfer window. It brings on a fire-sale mentality, causes unrest via the media and means clubs buy too many players" adding that "The old system, where if you had a problem you could look at loans or make a short-term purchase, was far better than this system we have at the moment". [44] Former England Manager Sven-Göran Eriksson has also questioned the value of the transfer window, commenting: "You do wonder at times if it is right to have a window, it was easier when it was open all the time and perhaps fairer for the players. I am sure much of the business being done on the last day is a little bit desperate and that is not right. I think it was better before, but then I am old". [45]

In January 2013 Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger asked for the January transfer window to be limited to two transfers per window and claimed it is "unfair" in its current form. He cited Newcastle United transfer activity as an example. [46] The following year, Wenger hit out at Manchester United's £37m purchase of Juan Mata from rivals Chelsea. Wenger argued that the transfer was unfair because United and Chelsea had already played each other twice during the season, but United would still have to play Arsenal, and said that "the rules should be adapted more for fairness". [47] Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini backed the sentiment of Wenger, disagreeing that a player "can go from one team to another team in the same league at this part of the year" and also said that the winter transfer window was unbalanced in favour of big clubs, saying "a club with money can take the best players from the other teams". [48] [49]

Former Crystal Palace manager Alan Pardew questioned why the Premier League transfer window remains open after the start of the season after Arsenal made a bid for midfielder Yohan Cabaye during his time as Newcastle United manager in August 2013. [50]

In January 2015, FIFPro said that the current transfer window system is "failing football and its players", one of the main issues being that players are released from clubs without explanation or compensation. [51]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thierry Henry</span> French football manager (born 1977)

Thierry Daniel Henry is a French professional football coach, pundit, sports broadcaster and former player. He is currently the manager of the France national under-21 and Olympic football teams. He is considered one of the greatest strikers of all time, and one of the greatest players in Premier League history. He has been named by Arsenal as the club's greatest ever player. Henry was runner-up for both the Ballon d'Or in 2003 and the FIFA World Player of the Year in 2003 and 2004. He was named the FWA Footballer of the Year a record three times, the PFA Players' Player of the Year a joint-record two times, and was named in the PFA Team of the Year six consecutive times. He was also included in the FIFA FIFPro World XI once and the UEFA Team of the Year five times. In 2004, Henry was named by Pelé in the FIFA 100 list of the world's greatest living players.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Patrick Vieira</span> French football player and manager (born 1976)

Patrick Paul Vieira is a French professional football manager and former player who is the head coach of Ligue 1 club Strasbourg. He was named in the FIFA 100 of greatest living footballers in 2004.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2003–04 FA Premier League</span> 12th season of the Premier League

The 2003–04 FA Premier League was the 12th season of the Premier League. Arsenal were crowned champions ending the season without a single defeat – the first team ever to do so in a 38-game league season. Chelsea finished second to Arsenal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gilberto Silva</span> Brazilian footballer (born 1976)

Gilberto Aparecido da Silva is a Brazilian former professional footballer who played as a defensive midfielder, most notably for Brazilian side Atlético Mineiro and for English Premier League club Arsenal, as well as for the Brazil national team. He currently serves as an ambassador for both Arsenal and FIFA.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mikaël Silvestre</span> French footballer

Mikaël Samy Silvestre is a French former professional footballer who played as a defender. He is best known for a nine-year spell at Manchester United, with whom he won numerous Premier League titles, the FA Cup, the Football League Cup, two FA Community Shields, the Intercontinental Cup and the UEFA Champions League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mikel Arteta</span> Spanish football manager and former player (born 1982)

Mikel Arteta Amatriain is a Spanish professional football manager and former player who is the manager of Premier League club Arsenal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">William Gallas</span> French footballer

William Eric Gallas is a French former professional footballer who played as a defender. He played most of his footballing career in France and England before finishing his career in Australia with A-League club Perth Glory. Gallas began his career in France, before being signed by English club Chelsea in 2001. He transferred to Arsenal as part of an exchange deal in 2006. He then signed for rivals Tottenham Hotspur in 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David Dein</span> British football administrator and executive

David Barry Dein is a British businessman, known for being a former co-owner and vice-chairman of Arsenal Football Club, and founding the Premier League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alex Song</span> Cameroonian footballer (born 1987)

Alexandre Dimitri Song Billong, better known as Alex Song, is a Cameroonian former professional footballer who played as a central or defensive midfielder. He also played as a central defender.

Stewart Ian Robson is an English former football player and TV and radio football pundit. He played for Arsenal, West Ham United where he was their player of the season in 1988, and Coventry City. After his footballing career ended he took on a role as a TV and radio pundit for Arsenal TV until 2012, ESPN, TalkSPORT and TNT Sports. He is currently ESPN's lead color commentator for FA Cup and EFL Cup working alongside Jon Champion and Martin Tyler, and Bundesliga with Derek Rae, who he also provides commentary alongside in the FIFA/EA FC video game series since 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Łukasz Fabiański</span> Polish footballer (born 1985)

Łukasz Marek Fabiański is a Polish professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Premier League club West Ham United. He also played for the Poland national team from 2006 until his retirement from international duties in 2021.

In English football, "The Invincibles" is a nickname used to refer to the Preston North End team of the 1888–89 season, managed by William Sudell, and the Arsenal team of the 2003–04 season managed by Arsène Wenger. Preston North End earned the nickname after completing an entire season undefeated in league and cup competition, while Arsenal were undefeated in the league in a run that stretched to a record 49 games. The actual nickname of the Preston team was the "Old Invincibles" but both versions have been in use although Arsenal is the only team to ever finish a 38 match season undefeated.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jack Wilshere</span> English footballer (born 1992)

Jack Andrew Garry Wilshere is an English football coach and former professional player who played as a midfielder. He is the head coach of the Arsenal under-18 team.

The 1997–98 season was Arsenal Football Club's sixth season in the Premier League and their 72nd consecutive season in the top flight of English football. In Arsène Wenger's first full season at the club, the Gunners won the league title for the first time in seven years. At Wembley Stadium, they beat Newcastle United 2–0 in the 1998 FA Cup Final to win the competition for the first time since 1993 and complete a domestic double – the second in the club's history and the first since 1970–71. Arsenal exited the League Cup in the semi-finals to Chelsea and lost on aggregate score to PAOK in the UEFA Cup first round.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arsenal F.C.–Manchester United F.C. rivalry</span> Rivalry between two English football clubs

Although Arsenal and Manchester United have frequently been in the same division in English football since 1919, the rivalry between the two clubs only became a fierce one in the late 1990s and early 2000s, when the teams regularly competed against each other for the Premier League title and FA Cup. There was also an enmity between the managers, Arsenal's Arsène Wenger (1996–2018) and United's Sir Alex Ferguson (1986–2013), and club captains Patrick Vieira and Roy Keane, and their contests often involved on-field trouble – seven red cards were shown in matches from February 1997 to February 2005. The league fixture in September 2003, known as the "Battle of Old Trafford", was marred by a mêlée instigated by Arsenal players, who felt striker Ruud van Nistelrooy had cheated to get Vieira sent off. A season later, Manchester United ended Arsenal's unbeaten run in controversial circumstances, which led to more disorder, this time in the tunnel. Manchester United lead in trophies won with 68 honours compared to Arsenal's 48.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arsène Wenger</span> French retired football manager (born 1949)

Arsène Charles Ernest Wenger is a French former football manager and player who is currently serving as FIFA's Chief of Global Football Development. He was the manager of Arsenal from 1996 to 2018, where he was the longest-serving and most successful in the club's history. His contribution to English football through changes to scouting, players' training and diet regimens revitalised Arsenal and aided the globalisation of the sport in the 21st century.

The 2012–13 season was Arsenal Football Club's 21st season in the Premier League and 87th consecutive season in the top flight of English football. Arsenal participated in the Premier League and the UEFA Champions League, after finishing third in the previous Premier League season. The League Cup however was out of their reach, and despite an entertaining cup run, which included 13 goals scored in two games, Arsenal lost to fourth-division Bradford City in the quarter-finals on penalties. In the FA Cup, Arsenal were knocked out by Championship side Blackburn Rovers in the fifth round. The Champions League also proved fruitless, as despite a valiant effort in Bavaria winning 2–0, they were ultimately knocked out on the away goals rule against Bayern Munich, thus extending their trophy drought for an eighth season. The highest scoring game in their season was the famous 7–5 win in the League Cup, where they came back from 4 goals down to beat Reading. Arsenal's highest scoring league win was the 7–3 win against Newcastle United in December; this was also their joint highest-scoring Premier League game of all time. This season, Arsenal finished fourth after having to close another large points gap between themselves and their North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur, who they beat 5-2 for the second season running.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2013–14 Arsenal F.C. season</span> 128th season in existence of Arsenal F.C.

The 2013–14 season was Arsenal Football Club's 22nd season in the Premier League and 88th consecutive season in the top flight of English football. Arsenal participated in the Premier League, FA Cup, League Cup and the UEFA Champions League, after finishing fourth in the previous Premier League season. Despite an opening day 1–3 league defeat at home to Aston Villa, which exacerbated underlying anger at the club's inactivity in the transfer market, Arsenal's league campaign got off to a strong start. Early pace-setters in the title race, Arsenal led the table for much of the season, spending more time on top of the league than any other side. However, a combination of injuries to key players and heavy defeats away from home against other title challengers saw the Gunners' title ambitions evaporate by late March. Nonetheless, Arsenal achieved success in the FA Cup with a dramatic 3–2 win over Hull City in the 2014 Final, ending a nine-year trophy drought.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2014 FA Community Shield</span> Football match

The 2014 FA Community Shield was the 92nd FA Community Shield, an annual English football match played between the winners of the previous season's Premier League and FA Cup. The game was played between Arsenal, who beat Hull City in the final of the 2013–14 FA Cup, and Manchester City, champions of the 2013–14 Premier League. Watched by a crowd of 71,523 at Wembley Stadium in London, Arsenal won the match 3–0.

References

  1. "Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players (2008)" (PDF). FIFA. 19 October 2003. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 September 2008. Retrieved 23 January 2008.
  2. "Uefa wants transfer windows". BBC Sport. 24 January 2002. Retrieved 29 October 2008.
  3. Ashdown, John; Smyth, Rob (1 February 2012). "Why does the Premier League have a January transfer window". The Guardian. Retrieved 12 April 2012.
  4. "Transfer clarification". Football Association. 1 April 2005. Archived from the original on 29 October 2007. Retrieved 29 October 2008.
  5. "Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players" (PDF). FIFA. p. 10. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 September 2008. Retrieved 29 October 2008.
  6. "Janela de transferências termina nesta quarta-feira" (in Portuguese). Confederação Brasileira de Futebol. 2014. Retrieved 3 September 2014.
  7. 2016シーズン追加登録期限について (in Japanese). Japan Professional Football League. 2017. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
  8. "Transferfönstret". fotbolltransfers.com (in Swedish). Retrieved 23 July 2013.
  9. "Overganger" (in Norwegian). Norges Fotballforbund. Retrieved 6 May 2024.
  10. "LFF Competition Regulations" (PDF) (in Lithuanian). Lithuania Football Federation. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
  11. "Зимове трансферне вікно 2023: коли відкриється в Україні та топ-5 лігах Європи (Winter transfer window 2023: when it is opening in Ukraine and the top-5 leagues of Europe)" (in Ukrainian). 1927.kiev.ua. 22 December 2022. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
  12. "FIFA Worldwide registration periods calendar" (PDF). fifa.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 March 2024. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
  13. "MLS Roster Rules and Regulations". 2022.
  14. "CPL Roster Rules & Regulations". 2022.
  15. "Säännöt ja määräykset" (in Finnish). Suomen Palloliitto. 2008. Archived from the original on 20 October 2008. Retrieved 29 October 2008.
  16. "Serie A to play on Boxing Day; transfer deadline to close before season starts". ESPN. 2018. Retrieved 6 March 2018.
  17. "AIFF announces season dates-and crs fee waiver for clubs academies". www.the-aiff.com. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
  18. "Here Comes The 2013 Football Summer Transfer Window - Fieldoo Blog". fieldoo.com. Archived from the original on 2 October 2015. Retrieved 15 November 2015.
  19. "Sommer 2021/22". SFL (in German). Retrieved 1 June 2022.
  20. "Les dates du mercato pour la saison 2024/2025". Ligue1 (in French). Retrieved 7 June 2024.
  21. "Transfertermijn betaald voetbal en FIFA TMS" (in Dutch). 20 December 2011. Archived from the original on 15 June 2013. Retrieved 29 May 2012.
  22. "Summer Transfer Window". Premier League . Retrieved 28 May 2022.
  23. "Comunicato Ufficiale N. 117/A" (PDF). FIGC. 2019. Retrieved 10 August 2019. |language=Italian
  24. "Serie A, le date del calciomercato: la finestra estiva chiuderà il 2 settembre". La Gazzetta dello Sport. 2019. Retrieved 10 August 2019.|language=Italian
  25. "When January transfer window 2022 opens and closes for EPL & other top leagues". www.sportingnews.com. 24 December 2021. Retrieved 1 January 2022.
  26. 1 2 3 "When does the 2023 summer transfer window close? Key dates for Premier League, La Liga and more". www.sportingnews.com. 30 August 2023. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
  27. "Beschlüsse der DFL-Mitgliederversammlung". DFL Deutsche Fußball Liga (in German). 30 May 2022. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
  28. "Bundesliga: Alle Infos zum Winter-Transferfenster 2022". kicker (in German). Retrieved 1 June 2022.
  29. "Liga de Fútbol Profesional". Liga de Fútbol Profesional. Archived from the original on 6 June 2011. Retrieved 5 January 2010.
  30. 1 2 Mackey, Ed. "Explained: The transfer windows still open and squad lists". The New York Times. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
  31. "Летнее трансферное окно в России будет открыто с 26 июля по 17 октября". Sports.ru. 24 July 2020. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
  32. GmbH, TaskFleet. "Worldwide transfer windows calendar". Archived from the original on 4 August 2017. Retrieved 15 February 2017.
  33. "Kenyan transfers to be heavily scrutinised". 9 May 2012. Archived from the original on 5 July 2013. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
  34. Duncker, Charlotte (1 February 2018). "When does the 2018 summer transfer window open?". manchestereveningnews.co.uk. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
  35. "Transfers – June 2011". BBC News. 31 May 2011. Archived from the original on 15 June 2011. Retrieved 11 June 2011.
  36. 1 2 3 "Deadline day rules & regulations". BBC Sport. 1 September 2008. Retrieved 29 October 2008.
  37. "Transfer deadline to be extended". BBC Sport. 18 August 2008. Archived from the original on 12 September 2008. Retrieved 7 October 2008. 7 October 2008
  38. Gatward, Matt (19 August 2008). "Wenger urges fans to support Adebayor as striker seals new deal". The Independent. London.
  39. "Wechselperiode I endet erst am Montag" (in German). Bundesliga. 29 August 2008. Retrieved 29 October 2008.
  40. League, The Football. "Section 6 - Players" . Retrieved 30 June 2016.
  41. "THE FOOTBALL CONFERENCE LIMITED, KNOWN AS THE NATIONAL LEAGUE - FA STANDARDISED MEMBERSHIP RULES 2016/2017 SEASON" (PDF). footballconference.co.uk. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 October 2016.
  42. "Section 6 - Players". The Football League. 11 August 2014. Retrieved 3 February 2015.
  43. Hamilton, Fiona (2 January 2008). "Steve Coppell calls for end to transfer window". The Times. London. Retrieved 2 January 2008.
  44. "Managers hit out at 'rubbish' transfer system" . The Telegraph. 1 January 2008. Archived from the original on 12 January 2022. Retrieved 31 January 2014.
  45. "Sven wants windows scrapped". Sky Sports. 5 September 2011. Retrieved 5 September 2011.
  46. "Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger wants two-player transfer limit". BBC. 25 January 2013. Retrieved 25 January 2013.
  47. "Arsene Wenger thinks Juan Mata's proposed transfer to Man Utd from Chelsea is unfair". Sky Sports. 24 January 2014. Retrieved 31 January 2014.
  48. "Manuel Pellegrini agrees with Arsene Wenger - Juan Mata moving from Chelsea to Manchester United is unfair". The Independent. 24 January 2014. Retrieved 31 January 2014.
  49. "Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini backs Arsenal conterpart[sic] Arsène Wenger over Juan Mata transfer" . The Telegraph. 24 January 2014. Archived from the original on 12 January 2022. Retrieved 31 January 2014.
  50. "Alan Pardew unhappy at timing of Arsenal bid". BBC Sport. 20 August 2013. Retrieved 31 January 2014.
  51. "Fifpro: players' union says 'failing' transfer system needs reform". BBC Sport. 27 January 2015. Retrieved 27 January 2015.