When does the January transfer window open?

Here’s everything you need to know about this month’s window…

Alex Pattle
Friday 01 January 2021 07:05 EST
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The transfer window is set to re-open this month as clubs look to bolster their squads in what continues to be a taxing season.

The calendar is packed with numerous fixtures in quick succession across various competitions, but managers’ intentions to reduce the physical demands on their players will not be the only motivating factor for moves this month.

This summer sees the postponed Euro 2020 take place across Europe, and players will be keen to be getting first-team football so as to improve their chances of being included in their national squads. The Copa America is also set to go ahead at the end of the season.

But many clubs could see their transfer plans disrupted by the effects of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, as was the case for some during the last window in the summer, and Brexit will also be having an impact on which deals can and can’t be done.

Here’s everything you need to know about the January transfer window:

When does the transfer window open?

The window opens for Premier League and all other English clubs on 2 January, before closing on 1 February.

Bundesliga sides in Germany and Ligue 1 teams in France can also start trading on 2 January.

Spain’s La Liga and Italy’s Serie A, meanwhile, open their windows on 4 January.

What deals can be made?

Permanent transfers and loan deals are both possible, involving players from Europe and further afield.

Will there be a longer ‘domestic window’ in England?

In the summer, clubs in England were able to continue making deals with one another for 11 days after the window had shut on transfers between other sides in Europe. Premier League teams were only able to sign players from lower-league clubs in that period, however, not from top-flight rivals.

It does not seem this particular element of the window will be in effect this month, though.

Which transfers will happen this month?

For an in-depth look at which players are likely to join or leave Premier League clubs this January, see our full article here.

How much will Premier League clubs spend in the window?

Here, we take a look at the finances of top-flight clubs in England and how that is likely to affect their transfer dealings.

How will Brexit affect the transfer window?

Premier League clubs in the UK will face a different challenge this month in their bid to strengthen their squads with a new set of rules that they must follow if they are to sign players from the European Union in the January transfer window following Brexit.

Here is a breakdown of how the new rules will affect Premier League sides.

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