The Premier League clubs could vote on Thursday whether to shorten the summer transfer window ahead of the 2025/26 season in order to minimise the amount of disruption for managers
There is a renewed desire among Premier League clubs to close the summer transfer window before the start of the season. Currently the transfer window overlaps with the Premier League campaign, causing a manic period where deals can distract from the actual football being played.
Last summer, for example, the transfer window ran from June 14 to August 30, meaning it was running concurrently for two weeks with the league, which kicked off on August 16. There have frequently been complaints about players having their heads turned late in the window and deals overshadowing the action.
The Premier League summer window shut early in 2018 and 2019 in order to combat this problem before lengthening once more after the post-Covid return. There are now renewed discussions among sporting directors and decision makers at the clubs to consider implementing the move again.
Top executives from Premier League clubs are due to meet on Thursday when the topic is likely to be on the agenda. The Telegraph reports that it was previously discussed during a meeting in February and will need a majority of 14 to be passed for all trading to be stopped before the 2025/26 season starts on Saturday, August 16.
However, the idea could be dropped before even reaching the meeting, if those pushing it feel they don’t have enough support from their peers. The biggest stumbling block for the Premier League is trying to get other major leagues to agree to the same measure, so they are not left at a disadvantage.
It was reported in September that the European Club Association, which represents clubs from England, Spain, Germany, Italy and France, were on board with the change. But the Saudi Pro League – which has become the second-highest spender on transfers after the Premier League – will not play ball.
Speaking last year, ECA director Chris Woerts explained how hard it is to get a consensus among clubs who are all desperate to get an edge on their rivals. “The clubs are working hard to get the decision made on this within the entire ECA,” Woerts said.
“Next year the transfer window must close on August 15, before the leagues kick off. Everyone is getting frustrated and annoyed by the fact that players are still being sold for weeks while the competitions have started.
“One major club in Spain caused a problem so it couldn’t happen this year. That was FC Barcelona, because of all their financial problems they were not able to make moves on the transfer market until a very late stage. So they broke the pact of the ‘Big Five’.”
The idea of a shortened European transfer window collapsed last summer after Barcelona objected, due in large part because they needed time to raise funds through player sales to register new signing Dani Olmo.