The Premier League announced on Thursday, March 27th, an unprecedented split summer transfer window for 2025 to accommodate the expanded FIFA Club World Cup and allow participating clubs Manchester City and Chelsea to register new players.
The window will initially open from Sunday, June 1st to Tuesday, June 10th. It will then close for five days before reopening on Monday, June 16th and running until the traditional deadline day of Monday, September 1st.
This unusual structure is necessary due to FIFA regulations limiting domestic transfer windows to 16 weeks per year (typically 12 in summer, 4 in winter) and the scheduling of the inaugural 32-team Club World Cup, which takes place in the United States from June 15th to July 13th.
FIFA has granted special registration periods for Club World Cup participants: June 1st-10th before the tournament, and June 27th-July 3rd for potential additions during the knockout stage. The Premier League’s split window allows Manchester City and Chelsea to utilize the initial FIFA window while ensuring the overall summer window remains within the 12-week limit and aligns with the closing dates of other major European leagues (September 1st). The same window structure will apply to all 20 Premier League clubs to maintain fairness.
The decision, however, raises potential logistical challenges. The initial June 1st-10th window coincides with a period of international fixtures, including Nations League finals and World Cup qualifiers (June 6th-10th), potentially leading to players negotiating transfers while on national duty.
Furthermore, complex scenarios arise for players whose contracts expire on June 30th, midway through the Club World Cup. For example, players like Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold (linked with Real Madrid, who are in the CWC) or Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne (whose contract is up) face uncertainty regarding their eligibility for the tournament’s knockout stages depending on when and where they sign new contracts.
While FIFA has adjusted rules to permit temporary registrations solely for the Club World Cup, it is considered unlikely that Manchester City or Chelsea would utilize this option. The split window represents a significant adaptation by the Premier League to the evolving global football calendar.
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