When does January transfer window close and why it runs into February | Football | Sport
The January transfer window has just opened, giving Premier League clubs more time than usual to finalise their deals. The mid-season window was introduced in the 2002/03 season, providing teams with the opportunity to bolster their squads or address weaknesses for the second half of the campaign.
Typically lasting a month, the latest window opened on January 1, 2026. However, this time around, teams will have a bit more time to wrap up any deals. Deadline day falls on Monday, February 2, this year, with the window closing at 7pm UK time. If a deal is agreed between two clubs late in the day, the Premier League will grant some additional time for the necessary paperwork to be completed and submitted via a ‘deal sheet’.
Meanwhile, clubs competing in any UEFA competition have until midnight on Thursday, February 5, to register their squads for the knockout stages.
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 falls 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 kick off 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.
However, their deadlines all coincide at 7pm UK time on February 2, with the exception of Spain, which gives clubs an additional four hours to finalise their deals before its window closes at 11pm UK time.
Which leagues are the exceptions?
Portugal has an extra day to conduct their transfer business as their window doesn’t close until February 3. Austria, Greece and Turkey all conclude on February 6, while Switzerland’s remains open late until February 16.
Can clubs sign players or free agents after the deadline?
Signings can sometimes be confirmed outside a transfer window but a player will not be registered to play for their new team until the window opens. Free agents are permitted to sign for a club at any time, as they are not under contract with another club.
