Premier League Announces Two Summer Transfer Windows to Accommodate Club World Cup

In a landmark decision, the Premier League has confirmed the introduction of two transfer windows during the summer of 2025 to help clubs involved in the expanded FIFA Club World Cup, including Chelsea and Manchester City, secure players ahead of the competition.

This move comes as the tournament will feature 32 teams and take place in the United States starting on June 15.

The first transfer window will open from June 1 to June 10, followed by a five-day break, after which the window will reopen from June 16 until the usual closing date of September 1.

FIFA’s decision to expand the Club World Cup requires clubs to be able to register new players before the tournament’s start.

This leads to the temporary split window in the Premier League’s traditional summer transfer period, which typically runs for 12 weeks.

Chelsea and Manchester City, the Premier League representatives in the tournament, will be allowed to sign new players during the early June window, in alignment with FIFA’s new registration rules.

These rules enable the registration of new players between June 1-10 and again from June 27-July 3 for the knockout stage. This adjustment ensures that Premier League teams do not have an unfair advantage over other top-flight clubs.

However, the introduction of this split transfer period comes with some challenges. The dates overlap with international fixtures, including Nations League semi-finals and World Cup qualifiers, which could impact players negotiating transfers ahead of major matches.

Notably, players like Trent Alexander-Arnold and Kevin De Bruyne, both of whom are tied to clubs involved in the Club World Cup, may find themselves in unique situations.

These players may either negotiate early transfers or sign short-term extensions, further complicating the transfer process.

As for the upcoming season, the Premier League is also preparing to implement semi-automated offside technology, set to debut in April, which could streamline decision-making in tight offside calls, ensuring fairer and faster officiating.