When can clubs sign players? How transfer windows work
Aug 20, 2026 · 17:50
A maximum of 12 weeks in summer and four in winter: FIFA sets the framework, national associations set the dates.
Transfer periods are not arbitrary national inventions: the framework comes from FIFA regulations, while the exact opening and closing dates are announced by each association.
The two periods
There are two registration periods per season. The longer summer window may last up to twelve weeks, the shorter winter one up to four. Dates vary by country, which is why one league can be closed while another is still trading for days.
What is still possible after the window closes
Free agents without a contract can be signed outside the window if national rules allow it. Many leagues also have a separate procedure for replacing an injured goalkeeper. For deals already agreed, what counts is the paperwork submitted before the deadline - hence the late drama of the final days.
The logic of deadline day
Clubs often wait until the last moment because sales and purchases form chains: a club cannot buy a striker until it sells one. The final hours favour the buyer if the other side is under pressure - and the seller if several suitors remain in the race.
Loan limits
International loans are capped per club per season, and a player may only appear for a limited number of clubs in one campaign. That is why nobody can be passed through three clubs in six months.
