Football transfers: The DFB extends the period for player changes

The German Football Association has decided to split and extend the transfer period for license and contract players in the summer. Changes are possible in two windows this summer: once on July 1 for a single day and from July 15 to October 5. The teams originally had time from July 1st to August 31st.

“Due to the corona crisis and the resulting shifts in seasons, national and international adjustments to the changeover periods are necessary, so the previous period had to be updated,” said Peter Frymuth, DFB Vice President for Game Operations and Football Development.

DFB follows recommendation

The first, one-day changeover period is primarily intended for the registration of contracts that have already been concluded, beginning on July 1st. Despite this, the players committed at this time are only eligible to play in the subsequent season 2020/21, despite the possibly ongoing 2019/20 season. This applies to national striker Timo Werner, who moves from RB Leipzig to Chelsea in the English Premier League. He should therefore not appear for Chelsea in the current Champions League season, which is due to end in August. He would only be eligible to play for the coming season.

The second transfer phase from July 15 to October 5 will then enable clubs to make long and flexible transfers. The UEFA Executive Committee had called on all member associations to set October 5 as the common end date for the upcoming summer transfer window because the deadline for registering players for the group stage of the 2020/2021 European Cup competitions was October 6 has been.