Premier League, EFL agree July 27 to October 5 for Transfer window

The Premier League and English Football League (EFL) summer transfer windows will re-open between 27 July and 5 October and will be on for 10 weeks, subject to Fifa approval.

Following consultation with the EFL, a domestic-only window will also be added from 5 October and close on Friday, 16 October at 5 pm.

Transfers between Premier League clubs will not be able to occur during this period, but top-flight sides can trade with EFL clubs. It will give EFL clubs a fortnight to carry out sales, purchases, and, in particular, loans with Premier League clubs.

It also allows Premier League clubs to carry out the vast majority of their business before UEFA’s 6 October deadline for Champions League and Europa League registrations.

A number of European leagues have already confirmed their summer window will close on 5 October.

In the EFL, any summer signings brought in before the completion of the Championship play-offs, which take place at the end of July and into early August, will not be eligible to play for their new club until season 2020-21 commences.

How English clubs can make the most of the transfer window

England football sides now know the dates they can transfer players, therefore, Wednesday’s announcement seems a common-sense approach to help clubs in different leagues.

The transfer window reopening on July 27 is no major surprise as it is at the end of the domestic league, but the difficulties arose over when to close it.

Since the transfer window dates are owned by the Football Association, and not specific to any one league, and FIFA allows up to 12 weeks for a ‘first registration period’ – traditionally a summer window.

UEFA wants all players to be registered for next season’s Champions League and Europa League by 6 October, so Premier League clubs knew they had to close their main window before that date.

Other major European leagues have agreed on an October 5 deadline and the English league had to oblige, but it only uses 10 of the available 12 weeks.

Closing the whole window across English football on that date would have had a significant impact on EFL clubs, who wanted to make more use of FIFA’s full allocation.

Therefore an agreement has been reached for Premier League and EFL clubs to trade players until 5 pm on October 16.

Premier League clubs cannot transfer players between themselves during that period but it does give EFL clubs an extra 11 days to strengthen their squad or earn more money by selling players to clubs in the top league.

It a win-win situation for everybody and, in an extraordinarily disruptive year, we can now look forward to two deadline days in October.

There has not yet been any announcement on a start date for the 2020-21 season.

Launching the new season on 12 September remains the most likely option, but that comes immediately after September’s round of international games.

The Football Association and EFL are concerned the reduced number of match dates will have an impact on their respective cup competitions.