Premier League Transfer Window: Everything You Need to Know

As the curtain falls on the exhilarating 2024/25 Premier League campaign, focus swiftly shifts to squad reshaping and signings, as the summer 2025 transfer window opens. Over the coming months, clubs across the division will aim to strengthen their teams and offload surplus players ahead of the new season.

Here’s a comprehensive guide to the summer 2025 transfer window.

Opening and Closing Dates for the 2025 Summer Transfer Window

This year’s transfer window features a slightly altered structure due to the inaugural edition of the expanded FIFA Club World Cup. To allow participating clubs to register players in time for the tournament, which commences on 15 June, the Premier League has introduced an exceptional registration window.

This early window opens on Sunday 1 June and closes on Tuesday 10 June at 19:00 BST. During this brief period, all Premier League clubs are permitted to sign players, not just those involved in the Club World Cup. Notably, this allowed Trent Alexander-Arnold to complete his transfer from Liverpool to Real Madrid in time for the Spanish side’s tournament campaign.

Although only Manchester City and Chelsea are the English clubs competing in the Club World Cup, every Premier League club can make signings during this early spell.

Following this short window, the market will temporarily shut before reopening on Monday 16 June. The final deadline for summer transfers is set for Monday 1 September at 19:00 BST – slightly earlier than the usual 23:00 BST closure seen in previous years.

How Transfers Originated

The transfer system has evolved significantly since the late 19th century when professionalism was first introduced in English football. At that time, players began making official moves between clubs. However, in 1893, the controversial ‘retain-and-transfer’ system gave clubs considerable power by enabling them to keep a player’s registration beyond their contract expiry unless a suitable fee was offered.

The practice of transfer fees became widespread, but it wasn’t until landmark legal cases such as George Eastham’s in 1963 and Jean-Marc Bosman’s in 1995 that players gained the right to move freely after their contracts ended.

The current model, which features distinct summer and winter transfer windows, was adopted in the 2002/03 season. Prior to that, transfers could occur at any time up until the end of March.

Transfer Restrictions and Squad Composition

Premier League rules stipulate that each club may register a maximum of 25 players. Of those, no more than 17 can be non-Home Grown Players. The rest must qualify as Home Grown, although players under the age of 21 do not count towards the 25-man quota.

A Home Grown Player is defined as one who, regardless of nationality or age, has been registered with an FA- or FAW-affiliated club for three entire seasons or 36 months prior to their 21st birthday (or by the end of the season in which they turn 21).

In addition to player limits, all Premier League clubs must comply with the league’s Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR). These financial regulations are designed to prevent clubs from spending beyond their means and incurring excessive losses.

Alternative Transfer Options

While paying a transfer fee remains the most common way to acquire players, there are several other methods by which clubs can secure new additions.

Thanks to the pivotal efforts of Eastham and Bosman, players whose contracts expire become free agents and are entitled to join new clubs without the need for a transfer fee. All contracts in the Premier League officially expire on 30 June.

Clubs can also pursue loan deals, known officially as temporary transfers. These can sometimes include an obligation to buy at the end of the loan period or after certain playing conditions are fulfilled.

Loan rules vary, but Premier League clubs are limited to two domestic loan players at any one time. However, this restriction does not apply to players loaned from clubs based in other countries.

Player Retention and Releases

Shortly after the 2024/25 season ends, Premier League clubs must submit their retained and released player lists. These submissions include players whose contracts are expiring on 30 June. While some may leave the club, others could still sign a new deal to remain for the 2025/26 season.

Although the full official list is yet to be released, several clubs have already announced the departures of certain players.

Everton are letting go of Ashley Young, Asmir Begovic, Joao Virginia, and Abdoulaye Doucoure. Manchester United have confirmed that Christian Eriksen, Jonny Evans, and Victor Lindelof will not be retained. West Ham United are parting ways with Aaron Cresswell, Lukasz Fabianski, Vladimir Coufal, and Danny Ings.

How Premier League Transfers Are Concluded

Most transfers at the Premier League level involve extensive negotiations between buying and selling clubs, usually facilitated by player agents and other intermediaries. The complexity of such deals means many are finalised late in the transfer window.

To assist with last-minute moves, clubs may submit deal sheets that grant a two-hour grace period after the deadline, providing time to complete remaining paperwork.

For a transfer to be validated, all relevant documents must be submitted to the Premier League, which then determines whether the registration is eligible.

Transfer agreements often include specific clauses, such as staggered payments. For instance, Wolverhampton Wanderers reportedly rejected an offer from Manchester United to pay Matheus Cunha’s £62.5 million release clause over five years. A revised deal was allegedly struck to spread the fee over three instalments across two years.

Manager Reactions to the 2025 Summer Window

Liverpool – Arne Slot: “I’ve said it many times, it’s not that easy because this team has won the league. But there are certain players in the world where I think: ‘If they would come, it would be nice.’ So there are not many that can strengthen us, but the few that are out there, we will try to get them.”

Arsenal – Mikel Arteta: “It’s going to be a big one and we are very excited about it. We want to increase the depth of the squad, but also the quality and skills that we need to reach the next step. We must be very smart with the decisions that we take. We need players because the squad is really short, and we are losing four or five players whose contracts are ending.”

Manchester City – Pep Guardiola: “New faces will come, especially in positions that are a little weaker, but I don’t think much, I don’t think a lot. We have a good squad, they have contracts, they will stay here, and I don’t want to have many players.”

Manchester United – Ruben Amorim: “We have a plan that is to bring some new players, of course, but our big plan is to improve the team that we have. It is not going to change much because of the FFP rules. Without the Champions League, we don’t need a big squad. We can control the squad in a better way.”

Confirmed Summer Transfers

Although the window has only just opened, several deals have already been finalised.

AFC Bournemouth defender Dean Huijsen and Liverpool right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold have both joined Real Madrid. Meanwhile, Liverpool have completed the signing of Jeremie Frimpong from Bayer Leverkusen.

Deals on the Horizon

Liverpool are believed to have submitted a bid for Bayer Leverkusen’s attacking midfielder Florian Wirtz. Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap has received permission to speak with other clubs following relegation. Reports suggest Chelsea are set to sign him after activating his £30 million release clause.

Matheus Cunha is reportedly close to joining Manchester United, while club captain Bruno Fernandes continues to be linked with a lucrative switch to Saudi Arabian outfit Al-Hilal.

Other speculative transfers include Marc Guehi to Newcastle United, Caoimhin Kelleher to Brentford, and Milos Kerkez to Liverpool.