The transfer market opens Friday at midnight. Dates, settlement, record... Here's everything you need to know to understand the 2023 transfer window.
What are the dates of the summer transfer window?
The summer transfer window opens its doors on Friday, June 9 at midnight and will close on September 1 in France. Transfer market dates may vary by country but generally range from mid-June to the end of August. This summer, for example, the English transfer window will start on Wednesday, June 14 and will also end on September 1. Transfers can therefore still be made while the season has resumed.
How does a transfer work?
In theory, a club interested in the arrival of a player cannot get in touch directly with him or his entourage, according to FIFA regulations. He must first express his interest to the club that owns the player. In practice, it regularly happens that a club agrees with a player even before starting negotiations on the transfer itself. Discussions then begin on the price and modalities of the transfer.
These negotiations can last several days or even weeks depending on the sums involved. It results in a contract of sale. At the same time, after breaking his contract with his former club, the player signed a new contract with his new club. The file is transmitted to the Professional Football League. If the LFP validates the contract, it is then approved and returned to the club and the player. The document specifies the amount of the salary, any bonuses and the duration of the contract.
What is Financial Fair Play?
Financial fair play was introduced by UEFA in 2011 under the presidency of Michel Platini and requires clubs not to spend more than they earn. But the FPF recently changed its name to Football Social Responsibility. This new regulation authorises European training to maximum losses of 60 million euros over 3 years. In addition, the European body requires that the wage bill be lower than income in a calendar year. It must not exceed 90% of revenues in 2023, 80% in 2024 and 70% in 2025. If clubs do not meet these criteria, they will be sanctioned financially or sportingly, and may even be excluded from European competitions. This is why many clubs are forced to limit their spending.
What is the record transfer?
Currently, the transfer made with the highest amount is still that of Neymar in 2017, from FC Barcelona to PSG. The club of the capital had settled the astronomical amount of the release clause of the Brazilian star set at 222 million euros. The striker thus became the most expensive player in history.