The summer transfer window in 2019 is similar to last year, with the English Premier League once again finishing earlier than the other major European leagues.
Here, we take a look at the transfer rules which govern each.
As Aug. 31 falls on a Saturday this year, the standard transfer deadline is pushed to Monday, Sept. 2.
Most transfer deals announced after the end of the season will officially complete on July 1, the usual start date for a player’s contract.
In all cases, clubs are still able to sign players as free agents after the deadline, and as long as they are not officially attached to any club on Sept. 2.
Premier League transfer deadline
The official FIFA transfer deadline for England remains at Sept. 2, but clubs in the top two divisions voted for an earlier deadline to come into force before the start of the season.
The Premier League led the way in Europe last season in bringing forward the transfer deadline to before the first match. The transfer market will close at 5 p.m. BST on Thursday, Aug. 8 — the opening weekend of Premier League fixtures follows straight afterwards.
– Premier League transfer window: What you need to know
An earlier finish means an earlier start, too. The transfer window will open on Thursday, May 16.
The Championship, whose season starts the weekend before the Premier League, decided to match the Premier League’s date, like last season. The difference this year is that Championship clubs will not be allowed to loan players through to the end of August like in 2018. Clubs in League One and League Two will continue to work to a Sept. 2 deadline.
All English clubs will still be able to sell or loan players to leagues where the transfer market remains open after Aug. 8.
The winter window will run throughout January as usual.
La Liga transfer deadline
The window will officially open on July 1 and close at 11.59 p.m. CET on Monday, Sept. 2. Clubs can still sign free agents after this date and sell or loan players to leagues where the transfer market is still open.
The winter window runs from Jan. 2 to 31.
Serie A transfer deadline
Italy was the only other league to bring its deadline forward last summer, and it will once again shut before Serie A starts.
The market will open on July 1 and close at 8 p.m. CET on Friday, Aug. 25 — the day before the Serie A season kicks off. Free agents can still be signed, and clubs can still sell or loan players to leagues where the transfer window remains open.
Last year Italy was due to have a truncated winter window, closing on Jan. 18, but a few weeks before clubs voted to return it to a month-long window.
Bundesliga transfer deadline
German clubs have set their transfer window at 6 p.m. CET on Monday, Sept. 2. Clubs can still sign free agents after this date and sell or loan players to leagues where the window is still open. The window opens on July 1.
The winter window runs through the whole of January.
Ligue 1 transfer deadline
Ligue 1 will open its window on June 11 and close it on Monday, Sept. 2 at 11.59 p.m. CET, with the winter window spanning January.
MLS transfer deadline
Major League Soccer’s midseason window will open on July 10 and close on Wednesday, Aug. 8.
Later deadlines
A handful of top leagues will still be able to buy players after Sept. 2. The deadlines are:
Sept. 5: Mexico
Sept. 22: Portugal
Sept. 24: Argentina
Oct. 15: Australia
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All transfers | Transfer Talk blog