Premier League Approves Transfer Window Change: Summer Deadline to Close Before New Season Starts
The Premier League has approved a significant rule change that will alter the timing of the summer transfer window. Starting from the 2025/26 season, the transfer window will close before the start of the new campaign, aligning with other top European leagues.
The new deadline will be Friday, August 15, 2025, one day before the Premier League season kicks off on August 16.
This move is part of a broader effort by the European Club Association (ECA), which represents clubs from England, Spain, Germany, Italy, and France, to standardize the transfer window across Europe’s top five leagues.
The goal is to prevent player trading after the new season begins, a practice that has caused frustration among Premier League managers who felt the transfer activity unsettled their squads once the season was underway.
The push for a unified deadline initially collapsed this year when La Liga withdrew its support, largely due to pressure from Barcelona, who needed more time to raise funds because of their financial struggles.
This meant clubs in Spain could continue trading players until August 30, two weeks after the Premier League’s season had already started, creating an imbalance.
With the new changes in place, the Premier League aims to convince the rest of Europe to follow suit, ensuring that all clubs from the top five leagues finish their transfer business before the season begins.
This adjustment is expected to prevent disruptions in team preparations and enhance the stability of the competition from the outset.
Premier League Approves Transfer Window Change: Summer Deadline to Close Before New Season Starts
