Frank Christian
The larger-scale FIFA Club World Cup is set to occur in the United States from June 14 to July 13.
This global event will introduce a wealth of top-tier football into an already busy agenda for several of Europe’s top teams, while transfer activity continues to progress.
In light of this, FIFA has put forward modifications to the transfer and player registration policies for the clubs involved.
Will Trent Alexander-Arnold take to the field in the U.S. following his anticipated switch to Real Madrid? Similarly, could we see Florian Wirtz donning the jerseys of Bayern Munich or Manchester City if his ongoing transfer saga wraps up?
Here’s a comprehensive overview of the ‘split’ transfer window.
Understanding the FIFA Club World Cup transfer window
What are the dates for the additional FIFA Club World Cup transfer window?
The special registration period is set for June 1-10, 2025. This decision was announced by FIFA last October.
Additionally, there will be an in-competition transfer window occurring from June 27 to July 3 for teams advancing to the knockout stage to register players for those matches.
In response to FIFA’s directive, both the Premier League and La Liga have implemented an additional transfer window for the first 10 days of June, applicable to all their clubs, ahead of the regular transfer window that flows from June 16 until the end of August. This synchronized approach allows all teams within these leagues to engage in transfers simultaneously, preventing those involved in the Club World Cup from having an unfair advantage.
What prompted the formation of an additional transfer window for the Club World Cup?
FIFA recognized the necessity for this adjustment due to the structure of player contracts in European leagues.
This setup, however, means some players could end their contracts during the Club World Cup. For instance, Kevin De Bruyne will exit Manchester City at the conclusion of his contract, while Leroy Sane has yet to finalize an extension, with his deal at Bayern Munich ending in June.
These cases illustrate a broader issue, allowing teams to offer short-term contracts during the tournament window if the players’ future agreements remain unresolved.
In the case of Alexander-Arnold, his free transfer would typically mean he officially joins Real Madrid on July 1. Nonetheless, the pre-tournament window provides Madrid the chance to negotiate an early release from Liverpool, enabling him to participate fully in the competition.
