The Premier League has announced an adjustment to its summer transfer window to accommodate Manchester City and Chelsea, who will be representing England in the expanded 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.
Under this new plan, the league will operate two separate transfer windows, allowing both clubs to register new players before the tournament begins in the United States on June 14.
This exceptional registration period, approved by FIFA in October 2024, will be open from June 1 to June 10 for national associations with teams competing in the Club World Cup.
The change is designed to give clubs participating in the tournament a competitive advantage by securing signings before the competition kicks off.
Why the Change?
The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup marks the first edition of the tournament’s expanded 32-team format. With top clubs from across the globe set to compete, the event is poised to become one of the most prestigious and financially lucrative competitions in club football.
A $1 billion collective prize pool has been allocated for the competition, with the winner set to earn up to $125 million—a massive financial incentive for participating teams.
Both Manchester City and Chelsea secured their places in the tournament after winning the UEFA Champions League in 2023 and 2021, respectively. However, given the tournament’s start date, just weeks before the usual July 1 opening of the summer transfer window, the Premier League deemed it necessary to introduce an early registration period for its representatives.
How Will the Transfer Window Work?
To ensure clubs can adequately prepare for the Club World Cup while still maintaining FIFA regulations, the Premier League’s transfer window will be split into three phases:
- Phase 1: Special Registration Period (June 1 – June 10)
- This 10-day window allows Manchester City and Chelsea to sign and register players before the Club World Cup begins.
- Other clubs in the league may also take advantage of this window, though it is primarily designed for teams competing in the tournament.
- Phase 2: Brief Closure (June 11 – June 15)
- The transfer window pauses for five days, ensuring compliance with FIFA’s rule that offseason transfer windows cannot exceed 12 weeks.
- Phase 3: Main Transfer Window (June 16 – September 1)
- The regular summer transfer window resumes, giving all Premier League clubs a full transfer period leading into the 2025/26 season.
This structured approach ensures that teams involved in the Club World Cup can strengthen their squads ahead of the tournament, while also preventing an excessive extension of the overall transfer window.
Potential Transfer Implications
The change could significantly impact major transfer moves, especially for clubs looking to finalize key signings before the Club World Cup.
For instance, reports suggest that Real Madrid might take advantage of the early window to sign Trent Alexander-Arnold from Liverpool ahead of the tournament. The England international’s contract expires on June 30, making him eligible to leave on a free transfer. By utilizing the June 1 – June 10 window, Madrid could secure his signing before their Club World Cup campaign begins.
This shift could also push Premier League clubs to accelerate their transfer plans, as key players might prefer to move earlier rather than later in the summer.
Chelsea and City’s Club World Cup Ambitions
Both Manchester City and Chelsea will be aiming to make history by winning the first edition of the expanded FIFA Club World Cup.
Chelsea won the 2021 edition of the tournament, defeating Palmeiras in the final, while Manchester City triumphed in 2023, adding the trophy to their historic treble-winning season.
The competition will feature some of the biggest clubs in the world, including:
- Real Madrid (Spain)
- Bayern Munich (Germany)
- Paris Saint-Germain (France)
- Flamengo (Brazil)
- Al Ahly (Egypt)
- Inter Milan (Italy)
With such high-stakes competition, both Chelsea and City will need to ensure they have competitive squads ready to challenge for the title.
A Shift in Football’s Transfer Market
The introduction of a dual-phase transfer window is a unique move for the Premier League, and it could signal a shift in how global football schedules are managed in the future.
As FIFA continues to expand club competitions, including the upcoming World Cup-style format for the Club World Cup, leagues worldwide may have to adjust their transfer regulations to align with evolving tournament schedules.
For now, Chelsea and Manchester City stand to benefit the most, as they will get the chance to reinforce their squads before facing the world’s best teams in June and July.
With the tournament’s financial rewards and prestige on the line, both clubs will be under pressure to make the most of this unprecedented early transfer window.
