For integrity of competition
©IMAGO
The transfer process is apparently about to undergo a drastic change. Unlike before, the summer transfer window could close much earlier in the future – not just at the national level, but generally in Europe’s top leagues. When asked by “Kicker”, Ansgar Schwenken, DFL director of game operations and fans, said: “We are in discussions with our clubs about whether we want to end the transfer period next summer before the first matchday of the Bundesliga. We are holding discussions with the top European leagues to find a common solution.”
According to the magazine, the English Premiere League has made a corresponding decision, but unlike efforts in the past, it wants to find international imitators. It is said that the push for a shortened transfer period is also well received by the DFL Commission. In concrete terms, the regulation would mean that new signings could only be signed until the start of the season – and not for weeks afterwards, for example in response to injuries after the first match days. The aim is to strengthen the integrity and credibility of the competition.
According to the “Kicker”, Italian football also welcomes the idea of an earlier transfer deadline, while no clear signal has yet been heard from France. The Spanish LaLiga is reportedly against the move because the clubs are able to fulfill licensing requirements by selling players until the end of August. Interesting: The idea of a shortened transfer period should not include the German 2nd league. In recent years, the lower house has started earlier than the Bundesliga, and in the future there could be an even greater tendency for players from the first floor to be signed on loan with the prospect of more playing time.
TOR instead of transfer list
Explained: This is how a change in the Bundesliga works
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In Germany, the transfer window this winter ends on February 3rd. Normally January 31st or February 1st is often the deadline, but since these dates fall on a Friday and Saturday this year, Deadline Day 2025 has been set on a Monday. But this is by no means the case in all countries. The fact that there is currently no uniform global regulation regarding the transfer phases repeatedly leads to incorrect information from individual associations or FIFA itself.
Transfer deadline on January 30th: Saudi Arabia
Transfer deadline on January 31st: including Greece, Albania, Qatar
Transfer deadline on February 3rd: Germany (8 p.m. 1st and 2nd league, 11:59 p.m. 3rd league), Italy (8 p.m.), France (11 p.m.), England, Spain (11:59 p.m. each) as well as Belgium, Scotland, Denmark
Transfer deadline on February 4th: Netherlands, Portugal
Transfer deadline on February 6th: Austria
Transfer deadline on February 11th: Türkiye
Transfer deadline on February 12th: Australia
Transfer deadline on February 14th: Hungary, Serbia
Transfer deadline on February 16th: Argentina
Transfer deadline on February 17th: Croatia, Switzerland
Transfer deadline on March 7th & 8th: Brazil, South Korea
Transfer deadline at the end of March/beginning of April: Finland, Japan, Norway, Sweden, USA, among others