The January transfer window is upon us with many clubs across the country and overseas already making moves for some new signings
The New Year is here which means the January transfer window has opened across the globe. Deals are already in motion across the UK with plenty of teams getting down to business in securing some new stars for the second half of the season.
Manchester City have already been in action to try and secure the transfer of Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo. Earlier in December 2025, the title challengers opened talks with the striker’s representatives over his £65million release clause from the Cherries.
Many other Premier League clubs are also in the process of seeking out potential recruits to boost their squad ahead of the latter half of the 2025/26 campaign.
Here, Mirror Football has all the details on when the transfer window opens, shuts and all you need to know regarding Deadline Day.
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Has the January transfer window opened?
In short, yes. The January transfer window opened on Thursday, January 1 for Scottish and English clubs. The timings vary for other leagues, with the winter window for Women’s Super League and Women’s Championship clubs opening on Friday, January 2, 2026.
When is Deadline Day?
Again, the final day of the transfer window differs for men and women’s football. Deadline Day actually falls on Monday, February 2, 2026 and the Premier League window shuts at 7pm.
The window for most major European leagues – including France, Germany, Italy and Spain – also closes on Monday, February 2, 2026 with times varying throughout each country.
The deadlines in England, France, Germany and Italy are all aligned for 7pm UK time, with Spain gaining an extra four hours to complete their deals, before La Liga closes its window at 11pm UK time.
In women’s football, Deadline Day is on Tuesday, February 3, 2026 and will occur at 11pm UK time.
Can clubs sign players outside the January transfer window?
Yes this is factually correct. Players can agree deals with clubs outside of the January transfer window boundaries but they won’t be able to be registered to play for their new side until the window opens.
The deal with free agents and loan signings
Free agents are different to contracted players as they can sign for a club at anytime, due to them not being tied to any current playing side. If a player is to become a free agent at the start of July, they can agree a transfer to a different club this month.
However, they won’t be able to officially join until their contract at their current club is over.
In terms of loan signings in England, Premier League clubs may not register more than two players on loan at any one time.
A club can register a maximum of four loans in the same season, and they also cannot loan more than one player from the same club at the same time. When it comes to Premier League clubs loaning players to one another, the only stipulation is a player signed in January cannot go on loan in the same transfer window that they were signed.
EFL regulations allow clubs more freedom to get temporary deals for players, but a maximum of five can be named in a matchday squad.
Clubs in the Championship, League One or League Two are not allowed to sign any more than four players on loan in any season, with no more than two of these signings over the age of 23. This is determined by calculating the players age by June 30 ahead of the season the loan takes place.
Any loan that later becomes a permanent transfer does not count towards a club’s limits EFL clubs are allowed to make an emergency loan if all their professional goalkeepers are unavailable due to injury, suspension or international call-ups.
Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL package
Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle ahead of the 2025/26 season, saving members £336 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.
Sky will show at least 215 live Premier League games next season, an increase of up to 100 more.
