When does January transfer deadline day close and why the date changed | Football | Sport
The 2026 winter transfer window will officially close on Monday, February 2. This extension gives teams additional time to finalise their squads, ensuring that the transfer window remains open for a full month of mid-season activity.
For Premier League and EFL clubs, the deadline is set for 7pm GMT. This new time is a significant shift from the traditional 11pm cutoff, aimed at creating a more manageable working schedule for club staff.
The primary reason for the date change is that January 31 falls on a Saturday. To avoid a deadline day clashing with a full weekend of domestic fixtures, the closing date was pushed back to the following Monday.
League officials have prioritised European harmonisation by aligning with other major divisions. This ensures major clubs in the Bundesliga, Ligue 1, and Serie A all conclude their business on February 2 to maintain a level playing field.
The 7pm deadline was introduced following an agreement between the FA, Premier League, and EFL. This date change helps prevent the “unsociable hours” typically associated with late-night negotiations that often ran into the early hours of the morning.
While the English window shuts early, the Scottish Premiership maintains an 11pm deadline. This discrepancy means Premier League clubs can still sell or loan players to Scottish sides for four hours after their own window has closed.
Clubs can still complete late deals using a “deal sheet”. If submitted between 5pm and 7pm, it grants a two-hour extension to submit the final paperwork, allowing transfers to be officially confirmed as late as 9pm.
Teams retain the ability to sign free agents after the deadline has passed. As long as the player was a free agent before the window closed and the club has space in their 25-man squad, they can be registered.
The move to an earlier 7pm slot also aligns the winter window with the summer window changes. This consistency across both annual registration periods helps clubs better manage the logistical and administrative demands of modern football recruitment.
