While the men’s World Cup is commanding the attention of many, the summer transfer window is rumbling in the background.
It is the busiest time of the year for incomings and outgoings, and follows in the footsteps of last year’s record-breaking window. The summer of 2025 saw £3.11billion ($4.17bn) spent by Premier League clubs and the British record broken by Liverpool’s £125m acquisition of Alexander Isak from Newcastle United.
This year’s window could be even more chaotic, with the world’s elite players negotiating the tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico, as well as potentially their club futures.
So, The Athletic has compiled all you need to know about this transfer window across Europe and beyond.
When do the major European windows open?
This year a more conventional transfer period returns, after last year’s Club World Cup incited the introduction of a new window, which lasted from June 1-10, allowing clubs to facilitate moves before the tournament.
Some Premier League clubs have got underway in their business, negotiating and even announcing deals — Tottenham Hotspur have signed Marcos Senesi and Andy Robertson on free transfers, while Brighton have welcomed Zadok Yohanna. But the English window officially opens on Monday, June 15.
This is in alignment with France’s Ligue 1, but not the other major European leagues.
Germany and Spain’s windows open on July 1, while in Italy it is June 29.
The Women’s Super League transfer window commences one day after the Premier League’s, on Tuesday, June 16. In all other major European leagues, the transfer window for women’s clubs opens on July 1.
When do they close?
While there is no real alignment between the big five European leagues over the opening of their transfer windows, they will all shut on the same day. That will be Tuesday, September 1.
But, in a change from recent transfer periods, it will close at different times for each country.
For the major leagues, barring La Liga, the last two transfer windows have shut at 7pm BST (2pm ET, 11am PT). This year, English clubs will return to an 11pm deadline, bracing club social media admins up and down the country for the infamous “don’t go to bed just yet” tweets.
Advertisement
In a continuation of recent years, players can complete moves to Turkey or Saudi Arabia following the closing of the European markets. Turkey’s window shuts on September 4, while in Saudi Arabia, deals can still be done until October 12.
Why has the transfer deadline changed again?
Bringing the transfer deadline forward four hours was a measure implemented for two windows, and was actioned in an attempt to provide club staff working across transfer departments with a more normal working pattern.
The ‘deal sheet’ element remains. If a transfer is at risk of not being completed in time, clubs can submit the sheet no more than two hours before the deadline and be given an extra two hours to finalise the deal.
The 7pm BST deadline posed issues.
Marc Guehi’s move to Liverpool on last year’s summer deadline day broke down at the 11th hour as Crystal Palace failed to bring in a replacement — and Guehi later joined Manchester City in January.
Dwight McNeil saw his move to Palace fall through due to the relevant paperwork not being completed on time. Both players had completed medicals. Jean-Philippe Mateta’s proposed exit from Palace to Milan also collapsed in January.
Leeds United’s deal for Harry Wilson fell through, with a deal sheet not fully submitted before the 7pm deadline. Leeds sources indicated Fulham did not submit their side of the document, while Fulham sources said they had made clear Wilson was not for sale.
What impact does the World Cup have?
The World Cup can often act as a stage for players to advertise their talents to other clubs. Real Madrid’s move for James Rodriguez in 2014 — the same summer he impressed for Colombia in at the World Cup in Brazil — is a perfect example.
The reality is that many players in the U.S., Canada and Mexico will be on the move.
In the England squad, John Stones is out of contract after leaving City, Elliot Anderson has been the subject of a verbal offer worth more than £100m from the Etihd hierarchy, Morgan Rogers is widely admired among top Premier League clubs, and Marcus Rashford faces an uncertain future at Manchester United following his season-long loan at Barcelona.
Advertisement
England head coach Thomas Tuchel admitted that transfers could prove to be a distraction. Tuchel said he wants his players to apply “common sense” when it comes to transfer dealings, and that it is “policy” to avoid such conversations on the day before or day of their matches.
“If it is quietly done, privately done, done efficiently, we are always happy to help to have clarity around the player,” Tuchel said.
“The best we can have is clarity. If anyone has the chance to complete a change of club and a transfer, we will not stand in the way but it has to align with our schedule and our goals which is to be focused.
“The last day before the match for sure and the second day before a match, not. Let’s see. We take it case by case. Until now, no player approached me. The doctor is ready to take any medical if needed.”
How are transfer window timings set?
FIFA specifies that each of its member associations must have two transfer windows a year — typically in the summer and winter.
World football’s governing body, though, does not determine the timings. Through FIFA’s online system, ‘Transfer Matching System’, each member association submits its transfer season dates.
So in the case of the transfer deadline being brought forward, the Football Association, the Premier League and the English Football League determined that change.
What deals could be done this summer?
City’s interest in Anderson is one of the biggest talking points. The Athletic reported their bid was worth £106m (€122m, $142m) up front with potential add-ons taking it in excess of £120m (€139m, $160m). To consider a sale, Nottingham Forest want the fixed fee to eclipse the £125m Liverpool paid Newcastle for Isak last summer.
The Athletic reported Portugal midfielder and free agent Bernardo Silva is advancing in talks with Real Madrid following his exit from City.
Tottenham defender Luka Vuskovic, 19, is the subject of a £30m bid from Brighton & Hove Albion. He is in Croatia’s 26-man World Cup squad.
Advertisement
Julian Alvarez is wanted by Barcelona and Real Madrid, with the latter club making public their €150m offer which was rejected by Atletico Madrid. The forward is part of Lionel Scaloni’s Argentina team.
RB Leipzig’s Yan Diomande is in demand this summer. The Athletic reported Liverpool had made contact with the German club as they stepped up their pursuit, while Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain are among his admirers. He will feature for Ivory Coast at the World Cup.