Key dates for the Summer Transfer Window 2024: Start dates and important deadlines for Premier League, LaLiga and other major leagues
Most major football leagues follow the traditional season format, with leagues kicking off in and around August and running until May, for a total duration of around 10 months.
While player movement or transfers are not permitted throughout, there are two key windows every season that teams must do their business inside of. The Summer Transfer Window, which usually begins on June 1 and has different end dates in every league, and the Winter Transfer Window which is applicable in the month of January, are the two windows for business.
Now, with the 2024-25 season just a few weeks away, teams have begun their planning and acquisition process for the ongoing window. Without further ado, let’s take a look at how the Summer Transfer Window unfolds in the major leagues.
Premier League
Arguably the league that does the highest spending and also possesses the highest collective spending power, the Premier League transfer window accounts for the majority of the deals that go through. With top scouting teams at all 20 clubs, players come in from all over the world for fees ranging from a couple hundred thousand to several millions.
Opening Day: The Premier League summer transfer window opened on June 14, but most deals will not go through until July 1, as most football contracts run until June 30. Players who have been released, or have chosen to retire, or others who have signed pre-agreements all move in and out of clubs on the first day of the window.
Deadline Day: The Premier League’s deadline day this year will be on Friday, August 30 at 11:00 PM GMT. Most of the long-drawn deals that involve a lot of financial or legal complications run until this time and are usually completed at the 11th hour, with the deadline serving as a strict reference point. On some occasions, clubs may apply for short extensions for deals that were already in the completion process when the deadline strikes.
LaLiga
Coming a close second behind the Premier League, La Liga relies heavily on their two juggernauts Real Madrid and FC Barcelona for the majority of the spending. In recent times, clubs like Atletico Madrid and Real Sociedad have come close to those two but only on the football pitch. In the transfer market, it is nearly impossible to compete with those two.
Opening Day: LaLiga’s summer transfer window officially opens on Monday, July 1. Players who have been released, or have chosen to retire, or others who have signed pre-agreements all move in and out of clubs on the first day of the window.
Deadline Day: LaLiga’s deadline this year will be at 11:00 PM GMT on Friday, August 30. Any last-minute moves, whether permanent or loans, will have to go through before this time. The league may offer extensions to clubs on a case-to-case basis.
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Serie A
The Italian league has declined drastically in terms of spending power in the last couple of decades. Clubs like AC Milan, Juventus, and Inter Milan had a huge say in the market but have seen their power fade away with time. Now, the league collectively struggles with finances as most clubs can barely afford exorbitant deals. This has also helped boost clubs’ academies.
Opening Day: Serie A’s transfer window will open on Monday, July 1. Players who have been released, or have chosen to retire, or others who have signed pre-agreements all move in and out of clubs on the first day of the window.
Deadline Day: The Serie A summer transfer window will slam shut at 11:00 PM GMT on Friday, August 30. The league may grant extensions for teams as and where they deem necessary.
Ligue 1
Carried by the immense spending powers of Nasser Al-Khelaifi and his Paris Saint-Germain juggernaut, Ligue 1 has slowly but surely strengthened its position among the top leagues in the world. Two of the biggest transfer deals in history have both been masterminded by PSG as they signed Kylian Mbappe (€180m, 2018) and Neymar (€222m, 2017) as a statement to the world.
Opening Day: Ligue 1 will open its summer transfer window on Monday, July 1. Players who have been released, or have chosen to retire, or others who have signed pre-agreements all move in and out of clubs on the first day of the window.
Deadline Day: Ligue 1’s transfer window will slam shut at 10:00 PM GMT on Friday, August 30. The league may grant extensions for teams as and where they deem necessary.
Bundesliga
Another league where one team does most of the big spending, the Bundesliga has gained a reputation for being a selling league rather than a buying league. Most teams have deep scouting networks they use to sign players on the cheap, before developing them and moving them on to a bigger league for a huge profit. However, this model did affect the balance of power for several years as Bayern Munich ruled German football.
Opening Day: The Bundesliga’s summer transfer window opens on Monday, July 1. Players who have been released, or have chosen to retire, or others who have signed pre-agreements all move in and out of clubs on the first day of the window.
Deadline Day: Bundesliga teams will have to complete their deals by 5:00 PM GMT on Friday, August 30. The league will grant extensions as and where deemed necessary.
Saudi Pro League
A newly-rich league that has taken the footballing world by storm, the SPL mainly focuses on star players who are at the twilight of their careers as they remain focused on building the league’s brand first. In recent years, players such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, Sadio Mane, and Roberto Firmino have all moved to Saudi for a huge paycheck as well as to popularize the sport.
Opening Day: Unlike European leagues, the SPL’s opening day falls on July 17. Players who have been released, or have chosen to retire, or others who have signed pre-agreements all move in and out of clubs on the first day of the window.
Deadline Day: The SPL’s transfer window will remain open until October 6 later this year and teams may be granted extensions based on their cases.