As the Transfer Deadline approaches, the football world is abuzz with excitement and anticipation. The summer transfer window closes on Friday, and clubs are scrambling to finalize their squads for the rest of the year. According to analysis from Football Transfers, external Premier League clubs have spent more than £1.7bn so far, £600m less than in 2023. With just hours to go before the deadline, fans are eagerly awaiting the latest news and updates on their favorite teams.
Transfer Deadline Day: What to Expect
Friday will be a day of high drama and excitement as clubs rush to complete their transfers before the 23:00 BST deadline. The Premier League, English Football League, and Scottish football will all see their transfer windows close at the same time. Across Europe, the Bundesliga window will close at 19:00, Ligue 1 at 22:00, and in Serie A and La Liga at 23:00 BST. The Women’s Super League transfer window remains open until 23:00 BST on 13 September.
As ever, deals are rarely straightforward and might not be completed until the very last minute. If that ends up being the case, then it can be difficult to get everything finalized and sent over by the deadline. Clubs sometimes conclude deals at the last minute, and it is not always easy for them to get everything completed and sent over by the deadline. In that case, a deal sheet can be used, which allows clubs to confirm that an agreement has been reached and be granted additional time to submit the remaining documentation.
Key Players to Watch
Several high-profile players are expected to make moves before the transfer window closes. Ivan Toney, the striker who has been impressing for Brentford, appears to have played his last game for the club. A £35m bid from Al-Ahli was rejected by the Bees, but it is likely that Toney will make a move to Saudi Arabia soon. Raheem Sterling, the forward who has been told he has no future at Chelsea, is also expected to make a move before the window shuts. There has been interest in the 29-year-old from Aston Villa and Manchester United.
Jadon Sancho, the Manchester United attacker who spent the second half of last season on loan at German side Borussia Dortmund, has not played for the Red Devils in the Premier League so far this season. Paris St-Germain have been linked with Sancho, and it is likely that he will make a move to the French capital soon. Defender Marc Guehi, who impressed for England at Euro 2024, has caught the eye of Newcastle, who have had four bids rejected for the 24-year-old. However, they are likely to go back and test Palace’s resolve once again.
Transfer Spending: A Decline in the Premier League?
Premier League spending is down by £800m as the transfer deadline approaches. According to analysis from Football Transfers, external Premier League clubs have spent more than £1.7bn so far, £600m less than in 2023. This decline in spending is likely due to compliance with profit and sustainability rules (PSR), which dictate that clubs cannot lose more than £105m over a three-year period. There was a flurry of business between the window opening on 14 June and 30 June, prompted by the end of the Premier League’s financial year.
The January transfer window saw a significant decline in spending, with clubs spending just £100m. This was the lowest figure since January 2012 (£60m), excluding the January 2021 window (£70m) when activities were restricted by the pandemic. The summer window has followed a similar trend, with experts citing compliance with PSR as one factor.
What’s Next?
As the transfer window closes, fans will be eagerly awaiting the latest news and updates on their favorite teams. From 07:00 on Friday, a page dedicated to all the latest transfer news, reaction, and analysis will be available. Regular updates will also be provided on BBC Radio 5 Live and breaking news across BBC Sport’s social media channels.
All the deals completed on transfer deadline day can be found on the dedicated confirmed transfers page. With the transfer window closing soon, clubs will be racing against the clock to complete their transfers and finalize their squads for the rest of the year.