When does the transfer window close? Everything you need to know about August 31st deadline day

Romelu Lukaku of Chelsea. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)

Few could have predicted the kind of upheaval and carnage that we’ve seen in the transfer market in recent weeks at the beginning of the summer.

From Lionel Messi leaving Barcelona for PSG to Cristiano Ronaldo sealing a sensational return to Manchester United, it’s difficult to remember a window that has seen as much world class talent on the move.

But there are still a few hours left to go, of course, and still plenty of time for thrills, spills, and an abundance of late drama.

With that in mind, we’ve gathered all the information you need to know this deadline day…

When will the transfer window close?

Due to the havoc that the Coronavirus pandemic played last year, the 2020 transfer deadline was pushed back to October 5th, giving clubs longer to complete deals.

Things have returned to normal this time around, however, and the window will close at 11pm BST on August 31st.

That date could vary from country to country, with some markets potentially open for longer.

In that scenario, it would still be possible for players to leave English clubs, but those sides would not be able to bring in replacements.

What are deal sheets?

Sometimes tense negotiations can mean that clubs conclude deals at the very last minute, and it can mean that they struggle to properly sign off on the relevant paperwork before the deadline.

A deal sheet allows a club to confirm that an agreement has been reached in order to allow for additional time to submit the remaining documentation.

For tonight’s deadline of 11pm, the deal sheet cannot be used before 9pm, and must arrive fully completed before the transfer window closes.

Once the sheet arrives, clubs have an additional two hours, or until 1am, in which to submit the full paperwork.

In short, just because the deadline has passed, it doesn’t mean you can head off to bed just yet.

When does the January transfer window open?

The 2022 January transfer window will open on Saturday, January 1st and close at 11.59pm on Monday, January 31st.

The January window for La Liga and Serie A opens on January 3rd but also closes on January 31st.