Clubs across England, Europe and beyond have been identifying potential transfer targets ahead of the January window. Here’s all you need to know.
January Transfer Window 2020: Everything You Need to Know
The start of the New Year allows clubs to make reinforcements whether to boost their promotion chances or to avoid relegation.
Last Word on Football provides with you everything you need to know ahead of the 2019-20 January transfer window.
When Does the Window Open?
The January transfer opens at midnight on Wednesday, 1 January 2020 as clubs in the Premier League and Football League get the opportunity to buy, loan and sell players.
Overseas, clubs in France, Germany and China can begin to make signings; although, sides in Italy and Spain have to wait until January 2 2020, before completing transfers.
Players signed by Premier League clubs on January 1 or 2 are not available to feature in matchweek 21; they can be available for the following matchweeks as clubs are allowed to amend their squad lists throughout the window.
The deadline to re-submit their squadlists is 2 pm on Wednesday 5 February 2020.
Clubs in Portugal and Russia have their respective windows open on January 3 and January 22.
When Does the Transfer Window Close?
Premier League clubs have until 11 pm on Friday 31 January 2020 to sign players.
Clubs in the Football League have until 5 pm on Friday 31 January 2020 to sign players; although, some deals are likely to be announced after the deadline.
Sides in Germany, Italy, France and Spain have the same cut-off time.
Portuguese teams have until the end of Saturday 1 February 2020 to complete signings; the window for those in the Russian Premier League and Chinese Premier League shuts on February 21 and February 27 respectively.
Non-League clubs do not abide by transfer windows rules so players can be signed by/from these teams at any point in the season; however, there is a deadline in which players can be registered by Non-League clubs which is much later in the season.
Can Deals Be Completed After the Deadline?
Yes.
Teams can complete transfer deals beyond the deadline as long as the relevant paperwork is submitted prior to the window closing.
Clubs can complete deals late on Deadline Day by submitting a ‘Deal Sheet’ between 9 pm and 11 pm.
This grants them an extended deadline until midnight on Deadline Day in order for clubs to enter the information needed by FIFA’s Transfer Matching System – this is required to apply for international clearance for new signings.
How Are Loan Deals Affected By the Transfer Window?
Championship and EFL clubs can have up to eight loan players on their ranks; however, only five can be selected in a matchday squad.
Ahead of the 2016-17 season, FIFA introduced rules which scrapped the emergency loan window.
Free agents can join clubs outside of the window; however, there is also dispensation given to clubs who suffer a series of injuries to their goalkeepers.
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