Winter transfer window 2026: European opening schedule
Premier League opens January 1 and closes at 7pm February 2; La Liga and Serie A start January 2; Bundesliga and Ligue 1 synchronized from January 1 to 7pm February 2; WSL extended until February 3; some leagues outside Europe have finalised their schedules.
The Premier League will open as early as January 1, 2026, and close at 7:00 p.m. (UTC - 7 hours earlier than Vietnam) on February 2, 2026, four hours earlier than previous seasons to synchronize with Europe. La Liga and Serie A will start on January 2, 2026; La Liga will close later at 10:59 p.m. on February 2, 2026, while Serie A will close at the same time as the Premier League. Bundesliga and Ligue 1 will apply the January 1–7:00 p.m. window on February 2, 2026. Women's Super League (England) will open on January 2, 2026, and close on February 3, 2026.
Opening schedule of top European leagues
| Tournament | Open | Close the door | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Premier League | 1/1/2026 | 7:00 p.m. February 2, 2026 (International time - Vietnam is 7 hours ahead) |
Four hours earlier than previous seasons |
| La Liga | 2/1/2026 | 22:59 February 2, 2026 | Closes later than other tournaments |
| Serie A | 2/1/2026 | 7:00 p.m. February 2, 2026 | Ends at the same time as the Premier League |
| Bundesliga | 1/1/2026 | 7:00 p.m. February 2, 2026 | Synchronized with Ligue 1 |
| Ligue 1 | 1/1/2026 | 7:00 p.m. February 2, 2026 | Synchronized with Bundesliga |
| Women's Super League (England) | 2/1/2026 | 3/2/2026 | Ends one day later than the south |
| MLS | End of January 2026 (expected) | End of April 2026 (expected) | Official schedule not announced yet |
Schedule of some other tournaments
- Australia: January 14–February 10, 2026
- Mexico: January 1–February 9, 2026
- Netherlands: 1/1–2/2/2026
- Portugal: 2/1–3/2/2026
- Saudi Arabia: January 5–February 2, 2026
Spending landscape and why the January 2026 period is worth waiting for
This mid-season transfer window comes after a summer that Deloitte has described as breaking all norms, with English clubs spending the most in the world. Liverpool’s £125m move to sign Alexander Isak from Newcastle was the highlight of a total Premier League spend estimated to have reached £3bn.
The pressure of performance in the second leg turns January into a “rescue pass” for teams in crisis. With the closing time of 7pm (international time) synchronized between many leagues, clubs are forced to plan early, reducing their dependence on the “crazy night” Deadline Day.
Strategic impact on clubs
The synchronised timeframe between the Premier League, Bundesliga, Ligue 1 and Serie A helps to reduce the differences in closing times that have previously benefited some markets. Instead of waiting for a rush, teams will focus on completing negotiations before 7pm on 2 February 2026 to avoid administrative, medical and registration risks.
Trading rules you need to know
- Clubs can still sign free agents after the window closes, as long as the player is not on the books of any club at the end of the transfer window.
- Deals agreed between leagues with different schedules can still be completed when the host league's window reopens.
Notable milestones
- 1/1/2026: Premier League, Bundesliga, Ligue 1 open.
- 2/1/2026: La Liga, Serie A, Women's Super League open.
- 2/2/2026: Deadline 19:00 (UTC) for Premier League, Bundesliga, Ligue 1, Serie A; La Liga closes 22:59.
- 3/2/2026: Women's Super League ends.
- MLS: Expected to last from late January to late April 2026.
With a rare synchronization of timeframes and a backdrop of big spending, the 2026 winter transfer window promises to produce deals that can turn the tide for the rest of the 2025/26 season.
