ESPN FC’s Craig Burley is “astonished” to see a club as big as Manchester United do so little in the summer transfer window.
The summer transfer window in 2018 is very different to past years. Rather than every major league bringing to an end its transfer business on the same day, Aug. 31, this year there is a staggered finish.
Here, we take a look at the transfer rules which govern each major European league.
In all cases, clubs are still able to sign players as free agents after the deadline, and as long as they are not officially attached to any club after Aug. 31.
Premier League transfer deadline
The official FIFA transfer deadline for England remains at Aug. 31, but clubs in the top leagues voted in individual changes.
The Premier League led the way in Europe in bringing forward the transfer deadline after complaints by managers in recent seasons. The transfer market closed at 5 p.m. BST on Thursday, Aug. 9 — the day before Manchester United kicked off the new season at home to Leicester City.
The EFL, including the Championship, decided to match the Premier League’s date. The difference here is that EFL clubs will still be able to sign players on loan up until Aug. 31. The loan can also include a clause whereby the move automatically becomes permanent once the window reopens in January, so in effect there is a loophole.
English clubs will still be able to sell or loan players to leagues where the transfer market remains open after Aug. 9.
The winter window will run throughout January as usual.
La Liga transfer deadline
Spanish clubs have not decided to make any changes to the way their market operates, and the window will close as usual at 11.59 p.m. CET on Friday, Aug. 31. Clubs can still sign free agents after this date and sell or loan players to leagues where the transfer market is still open.
The winter window runs throughout January.
Cristiano Ronaldo has already moved from Real Madrid to Juventus.
Serie A transfer deadline
The deadline has been set for 8 p.m. CET on Friday, Aug. 17 — the day before the Serie A season kicks off. Serie A and Serie B clubs cannot sign players after this date, though clubs in Serie C have until Saturday, Aug. 25 to complete their business. Free agents can still be signed after these dates, and clubs can still sell or loan players to leagues where the transfer window remains open.
The FIGC has also confirmed a truncated winter window from Thursday, Jan. 3 to Friday, Jan. 18 at 8 p.m. CET.
Bundesliga transfer deadline
German clubs have also left their transfer window at 6 p.m. CET on Friday, Aug. 31. Clubs can still sign free agents after this date and sell or loan players to leagues where the window is still open.
The winter window runs throughout January.
Ligue 1 transfer deadline
Ligue 1 will operate exactly the same as La Liga, with the transfer deadline remaining as Friday, Aug. 31 at 11.59 p.m. CET and the winter window spanning January.
Later deadlines
A handful of major leagues that will still be able to buy players after Aug. 31. The deadlines are:
Sept. 1: Denmark, Scotland, Turkey
Sept. 2: Netherlands
Sept. 6: Russia
Sept. 21: Portugal
Oct. 18: Australia
The Major League Soccer summer transfer widow closes on Wednesday, Aug. 8.
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