Premier League confirm TWO summer transfer windows due to 'exceptional circumstances' as chiefs look to accommodate clubs competing in Club World Cup

To accommodate the 2025 Club World Cup participants, the first transfer window will open earlier than usual, running from Sunday, June 1, to Tuesday, June 10. After a brief closure, it will reopen on Monday, June 16, and will continue as usual until Monday, September 1. The adjustment follows FIFA’s announcement of an interim transfer window last October, designed specifically for clubs participating in the expanded Club World Cup in the United States. This ruling allows teams such as Manchester City and Chelsea to strengthen their squads and extend contracts before the competition begins on June 14.

While FIFA’s decision favored Club World Cup participants, many Premier League teams not involved in the tournament were concerned about being locked out of the transfer market during this period. As reported by The Guardian, multiple clubs lobbied for the domestic transfer window to open early so they could also conduct business ahead of the competition. Following a Premier League meeting on Thursday, an agreement was reached, with the league releasing a statement confirming the two-phase summer transfer window.

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.”

One of the key implications of this early transfer window is that it allows teams to finalize deals ahead of the Club World Cup. Real Madrid are reportedly eager to sign Trent Alexander-Arnold before the tournament begins. With Alexander-Arnold’s contract at Liverpool expiring on June 30, the early transfer window gives Los Blancos an opportunity to negotiate a deal with the Merseyside club before the England defender potentially joins them for the competition in the United States.

A major talking point is why the transfer window will close temporarily between June 10 and June 16 before reopening. The explanation lies in the Premier League’s official handbook, which states that the summer transfer window must open exactly 12 weeks before its scheduled closure. According to league regulations, the summer window can last a maximum of 12 weeks, while the January window is limited to four weeks. Since this early period is classified as an exceptional registration window, it does not fall under the usual timeframe set by league rules.