Premier League clubs vote to close transfer window earlier

Premier League clubs have voted to close future summer transfer windows before the start of each domestic campaign.

Next summer’s transfer window will now close at 5pm on Thursday 9th August, two days before the first match of the new Premier League campaign. However, the change will only apply to incoming players meaning players can still be sold to other leagues whose transfer windows remain open later into August and September.

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Premier League executive chairman Richard Scudamore said: “There was a big concern that the Premier League has been playing two or three match rounds with a degree of uncertainty between themselves.

“It wasn’t unanimous but nobody was pathologically angry about the situation. But there were some concerns by some clubs that, although they wouldn’t be able to buy any more players, their players could still be picked off by those who haven’t closed their windows. It just meant they couldn’t support it.

“We did have managers’ meetings before the season started. The managers are very strong on it. Almost all of them were in favour of shutting it earlier. The clubs just think it’s wrong that, going into the first game of the season, they could be playing against a player that, a few weeks later, could be playing for a different club.”

Five clubs voted against the change and one abstained.