The summer transfer window opens earlier than ever this year, with Premier League clubs conducting business sooner rather than later.
FIFA have confirmed that the 2025 summer window is being split into two periods on either side of their expanded Club World Cup.
Around £2billion was spent on new signings by top-flight clubs 12 months ago, a decrease from the near-£2.4billion in 2023.
That is expected to rise again following the end of this season, due to the added money from the new TV rights deal in England.
Premier League clubs have also flourished in Europe this year, with six teams set to receive Champions League riches next term.
When does the 2025 summer window open?
The summer market will now officially open on Sunday, June 1, which is two weeks earlier than in 2024, when it began on June 14.
However, the window will then close again nine days later on Tuesday, June 10, for a period of six days when clubs cannot sign players.
The split window was a move made by FIFA due to an exceptional registration period relating to their Club World Cup.
All Premier League and EFL teams are free to do transfers during this period, not just Chelsea and Man City, who are in the tournament.
The second part of the window will then open again on Monday, June 16, until Deadline Day – which will be Monday, September 1.
Both transfer windows will also close four hours earlier at 7pm, compared to the traditional 11pm cutoff point.
The Premier League, EFL and FA ratified the change, which was introduced to allow a more normal working pattern for staff.
It is understood that other European leagues will follow a similar format, which impacts the Club World Cup mini-window as well.
As usual, teams will have a two-hour grace period after the deadline to complete transfers, provided deal sheets have been sent in.
For overseas signings, clubs typically have until midnight to comply with FIFA requirements.
The 2025/26 winter window will open from Thursday, January 1, to Monday, February 2, but no decision has been made on closing times.
Why does the Premier League have a six-day closure?
Fans might be wondering why the window doesn’t just run through the summer instead of closing for less than a week.
The 2024/25 Premier League handbook has the answer for that, on page 267 (slide 138 online).
It states that “the Summer Transfer Window in any year shall: commence either: (a) at midnight on the last day of the Season; or (b) at midnight on the date 12 weeks prior to the date on which it is to conclude.”
The early Club World Cup mini-window is considered an exceptional registration period, and is separate from the above guidelines.
