The January transfer window has just opened and Premier League clubs have even more time than usual to complete their business. The mid-season window was introduced in the 2002/03 season, allowing sides to boost their options or address areas of weakness for the second half of the campaign.
It usually lasts a month, with the latest window opening on January 1, 2026. Yet, this time around, Premier League teams will have a little extra time to complete any deals.
Deadline day actually falls on Monday, February 2 this year, with the Premier League window shutting at 7pm UK time. If a transfer is agreed between two clubs late in the day, the Premier League will grant some additional time for the relevant documentation to be completed and submitted in the form of a ‘deal sheet’.
Meanwhile, clubs competing in any UEFA competition have until midnight on Thursday, February 5 to register their squads for the knockout rounds.
Why does the transfer window close in February?
Last year’s January window closed on February 3 - the latest it has ever shut. A February closing date has been chosen in the past whenever January 31 is over a weekend, which is also the case this time around with the month ending on a Saturday.
Do other European leagues have a later closing date?
Like the Premier League, Germany’s Bundesliga and France’s Ligue 1 both open on January 1, while Italy’s Serie A and Spain’s La Liga have to wait an extra day for their windows to begin on January 2.
Yet, their deadlines are all aligned for 7pm UK time on February 2, with the exception of Spain, which allows clubs four extra hours to complete their deals before its window shuts at 11pm UK time.
Which leagues are the exceptions?
Portugal have an extra day to carry out their transfer activity as their window closes on February 3. The likes of Austria, Greece and Turkey all shut on February 6, while Switzerland’s remains open late until February 16.
Can clubs sign players or free agents after the deadline?
Signings are sometimes confirmed outside a transfer window but a player will not be registered to play for their new side until the window opens. Free agents are allowed to sign for a team at any time, as they are not contracted to another club.