The Premier League has confirmed it will have two transfer windows this summer due to “exceptional” circumstances surrounding the Club World Cup.
The first transfer window will open early, and run between Sunday 1 June and Tuesday 10 June. It will then close briefly before reopening on Monday 16 June. The second transfer window will run as normal before closing on Monday 1 September.
The Premier League’s decision appeared inevitable after Fifa announced an interim transfer window for clubs competing at the Club World Club last October. Fifa’s stance meant that clubs such as Chelsea and Manchester City would be able to add to their squads and agree contract extensions with players before the tournament begins in the United States on 14 June.
However, as the Guardian first reported last month, many of the other Premier League clubs were unhappy at the prospect of being shut out of the transfer market during this period and wanted the domestic window to open earlier so they were not at a disadvantage.
That has now been agreed after a Premier League meeting on Thursday. In a statement the Premier League said: “The window will open early, between Sunday 1 June and Tuesday 10 June, due to an exceptional registration period relating to the Fifa Club World Cup. It will then reopen on Monday 16 June and close on Monday 1 September.”
Last year the summer transfer window was open between 14 June and 30 August.
