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Premier League owners and chief executives rejected a recommendation from their own sporting directors that the summer transfer window should close in time for the start of the season.
The decision was made at today’s shareholders’ meeting that the proposal, revealed by Telegraph Sport, that the window close on Thursday August 14, two days before the start of the season, should not even go to a vote. The sporting directors and equivalent at the 20 clubs had met last month and formulated proposals for the window to shut before the season began in order that manager’s would know the scope of their squads in advance.
The feeling was that many deals drag on unnecessarily because of the extra two weeks until the start of September and an early deadline would simply add more urgency to negotiations. But club owners and chief executives felt that it would put the Premier League at a disadvantage to other European leagues, as well as the Saudi Pro League, which would stay open later.
The same happened previously when sporting directors were canvassed for their views on the introduction of the five substitutes – a measure that was voted down when it was initially proposed at a shareholders’ meeting. The early closing of the summer window was implemented in 2018 and 2019 but later changed back to the original close at the start of September.
The sporting directors had also proposed cutting the January window – originally conceived of for emergency cover only – to just two weeks. Neither issue went to a vote with preliminary discussions indicating that it would not get close to the simple majority of 11 that it would require to change the dates. The Premier League announced that the 2025 summer window will close on September 1.
The Premier League also said that an early window would be opened from June 1 to June 10, primarily for the purposes of Fifa Club World Cup participants. Only Manchester City and Chelsea are playing in that competition from the Premier League this summer. The club tournament runs from June 14 to the final on July 23. It has complicated matters with some players currently being out of contract from June 30 including City’s Kevin De Bruyne and Real Madrid’s Luka Modric. Those players will have to come to a short-term accommodation with their clubs if they are to play in the knockout stages.
The clubs also discussed semi-automated offside which will be used in the FA quarter-finals this weekend. It is likely to be introduced in the Premier League next season.
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