Premier League transfer window summer 2018
When does the transfer window close?
It closes at 5pm on Thursday 9 August, a day before the new Premier League season starts. In previous years, the transfer deadline was 31 August. But Premier League teams can still sell players to international clubs after 9 August.
Why have the dates changed?
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Sky Sports says that the clubs agreed on the new dates so incoming transfers were confirmed before the start of the 2018-2019 Premier League season.
“Bringing the deadline forward will eradicate panic buys after two or three games of the season, but it will also give Premier League clubs significantly less time to complete their business,” Sky reports.
A Premier League statement said: “This new agreement applies only to the acquisition of players. Clubs will still have the ability to sell or loan players to other leagues whose transfer windows are open, as they can now to leagues that have different transfer window dates.”
EFL summer transfer window
When does it close?
The EFL transfer window opened on Monday 7 May and will close at 5pm on 9 August – the same day as the Premier League. This is five days after the start of the EFL season. EFL chief executive Shaun Harvey said: “This new approach will give clubs and managers the stability they crave earlier in the season whilst also providing the flexibility to add to their squads after the traditional deadline until the end of the month if required.”
Loan deals and free agents
EFL clubs will still be able to sign free agents and loan players until 31 August.
EFL window key dates
EFL clubs will still be able to:
- sign players on standard loan up to 31 August 2018
- sign players on standard loan up to 31 August with an option to agree a permanent transfer when the next window opens
- register players who ceased to be registered with a club during the period up until 31 August
- transfer players out to a club in any league whose window is still open
International transfer deadline
The Premier League and EFL now have different transfer windows to their European counterparts, meaning there will be two deadline days this summer. Here are the window opening and closing dates for France, Italy, Germany and Spain:
- Sweden: 11 August
- Italy: 18 August
- France: 31 August
- Germany: 31 August
- Spain: 31 August
- Scotland: 31 August
- Russia: 31 August
- Belgium: 31 August
- Turkey: 31 August
- Holland: 3 September
