As the transfer window prepares to close, clubs across Europe are scrambling to finalize their squads for the upcoming season. With the deadline looming, managers are under pressure to offload unwanted players and bring in new talent. But what happens to players who don’t get the move they’re seeking? And what options do clubs have when they fail to offload unwanted players?
Understanding the Transfer Window
The transfer window is a period of time during which clubs can buy and sell players. In England, the window closes on August 30, while in other European countries, the deadline varies. This season, the ‘top five’ leagues – England, Spain, Germany, Italy, and France – agreed to close their respective windows on the last weekday, which falls on Friday, August 30. However, the transfer windows across the top five leagues will close at different times, with the Serie A window closing at 19:00 BST, La Liga’s at 23:00 BST, Bundesliga’s at 17:00 BST, and Ligue 1’s at 22:00 BST.
Clubs have until the deadline to finalize their squads, but what happens if they fail to offload unwanted players? According to Premier League rules, clubs must submit a 25-player squad by September 13. Any player that fails to get a move will be hoping to be named in their club’s 25-player squad, otherwise, they face the prospect of going months without playing first-team football.
Options for Clubs and Players
So, what options do clubs have when they fail to offload unwanted players? One possibility is to sell players to countries where the transfer window is still open. For example, the transfer window in Saudi Arabia will close on October 6, and Turkey’s closes on September 13. This means that English clubs can still sell players to these countries, but they are restricted in terms of finding replacements as the domestic window will be closed.
Another option is for clubs to sign free agents – players who are not contracted to another club. However, unless there is space in a club’s registered squad or the player is under the age of 21, new signings must wait until the next registration period before they can play for the club.
Players can also have their deals terminated by their clubs if they are in breach of contract. This was the case with Adam Johnson at Sunderland in 2016 and Adrian Mutu at Chelsea in 2004. In a more regular occurrence, players can be released from their contract after a mutual termination agreement with their clubs. This was the case when Cristiano Ronaldo left Manchester United in December 2022 following a falling-out with manager Erik ten Hag.
Termination of Contracts
Termination of contracts can be a complex process, and it’s not always easy for clubs to get rid of unwanted players. According to Premier League rules, clubs can terminate a player’s contract if they are in breach of contract. However, this can be a costly process, and clubs may have to pay the player a significant amount of money to terminate the contract.
Players can also request to have their contracts terminated if they are not getting enough playing time. This can be a difficult situation for clubs, as they may not want to lose a player, but they also don’t want to keep a player who is not contributing to the team.
Mutual Termination Agreements
Mutual termination agreements are another way for clubs to get rid of unwanted players. This is when the club and the player agree to terminate the contract, and the player becomes a free agent. This can be a win-win situation for both parties, as the club gets rid of a player they no longer want, and the player gets to move on to a new club.
Chelsea’s Transfer Window Woes
Chelsea is one of the clubs that has been struggling to offload unwanted players. The Blues have spent around £200m on new players this summer and recouped around £120m in sales. However, manager Enzo Maresca still has a bloated squad, and he is under pressure to trim it down before the transfer window closes.
Chelsea’s situation is not new, as they have been struggling to offload unwanted players for several seasons. Last summer, the Blues offloaded Romelu Lukaku on loan to Roma and Callum Hudson-Odoi to Nottingham Forest on deadline day after the pair were told they had no future at Stamford Bridge.
Should Chelsea fail to sell players before the transfer window closes, they may have to utilize one of the above options to reduce the size of their squad. This could include selling players to countries where the transfer window is still open or signing free agents.
Chelsea’s situation highlights the challenges that clubs face when trying to offload unwanted players. It’s not always easy to get rid of players, and clubs may have to get creative to solve the problem.