The hustle and bustle of January transfer The window is just around the corner, and clubs around the world are preparing to spend ridiculous amounts of money.
While the summer window offers teams the opportunity to strategize, plan and negotiate intensively, the winter market is characterized by haste, uncertainty and desperation. It’s not the best time to make a deal, but often there is no other alternative.
The window is well underway and a number of new signings have been secured across Europe and beyond, with some big names potentially looking for offers on cheaper terms when their contracts expire.
But when will the January transfer clock ring for the last time? Let’s take a closer look.
The more proactive teams have already strengthened their squads in the winter window, with the January market opening across much of Europe on January 1, 2025.
The Premier League, Bundesliga, Serie A and Ligue 1 all opened shops on New Year’s Day, although the Eredivisie, Primeira Liga and La Liga began trading on January 2nd.
All contracts agreed before the opening of the January window have now been formalized and clubs also have the opportunity to register new signings. Players who are in the final six months of their contract can agree terms with other clubs, with Premier League talent only able to sign pre-contracts with foreign teams.
Logic would suggest that the January transfer window would close at the end of the month, but when have logic and football ever been closely linked?
In the UK, France, Germany and Spain the winter market closes on Monday 3 February. However, the exact time each window closes varies, with English football business ending at 23:00 GMT.
Italy, Portugal and the Netherlands will close their doors the next day, on Tuesday, February 4th, while the Turkish market will not close until a week later, on Tuesday, February 11th.
The Saudi Pro League registration window closes on January 31st.
league | The January 2025 transfer window closes |
|---|---|
Women’s Super League | Thursday, January 30th |
Saudi Pro League | Friday, January 31st |
Premier League | Monday, February 3rd |
LaLiga | Monday, February 3rd |
Bundesliga | Monday, February 3rd |
Ligue 1 | Monday, February 3rd |
Series A | Tuesday, February 4th |
Eredivisie | Tuesday, February 4th |
Primeira Liga | Tuesday, February 4th |
Super League | Tuesday, February 11th |
There are an unusually high number of top players entering the final six months of their current contracts, leaving them open to exits at reduced prices or pre-contractual arrangements. In Liverpool, the world-class trio Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold are available for talks with foreign clubs, the latter of which is closely linked to Real Madrid.
Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne is another whose contract expires this summer, while Bayern Munich triumvirate Alphonso Davies, Joshua Kimmich and Leroy Sane are running out of time on their current deals.
Elsewhere, Manchester United star Marcus Rashford could be set to leave Old Trafford, while his teammate Alejandro Garnacho is also attracting interest after a troubled spell in Manchester.
Victor Osimhen seems to dominate every transfer window these days and the Napoli striker has finally secured his expensive move to a European giant. He is currently on loan at Galatasaray in Turkey.