published on June 13, 2024 in celeb

When does the 2023 January transfer window open and close and what can we expect?

Premier League football is back and the January transfer window is looming.

Teams in England’s top flight and around Europe will have the opportunity to freshen up their squads for the second half of the season.

Plenty of work will have been done in the background during the World Cup break to ensure clubs are best prepared to take full advantage of the January transfer window.

But when does it actually open and what business are we expecting to see? The Athletic has all the details.

When does the January transfer window open and close?

For English clubs, the January transfer window opens on Sunday, January 1, 2023 and closes at 11pm GMT on Tuesday, January 31.

That is also the case for clubs in Scotland, Germany and in the Women’s Super League.

However, Italian, Spanish and French clubs will have to wait a further 24 hours before confirming any business because the transfer window in Serie A, La Liga and Ligue 1 opens on Monday, January 2.

The closing date is the same across each of those mentioned leagues but the time (all given as GMT below) the window shuts on January 31 varies around the continent:

Premier League, EFL, La Liga — 11pm
WSL — 5pm (domestic transfers), midnight (international transfers)
Bundesliga — 5pm
Serie A — 7pm
SPFL, Ligue 1 — 11:59pm

All clubs can register new players in time for them to be eligible for Matchweek 19, which starts on January 2 2023, but the paperwork must be submitted by midday of the last working day before their match in that round of fixtures. January 1 and 2 are considered as working days.

What to expect from the January transfer window

January is a notoriously difficult market for clubs to operate in, with late scrambles for stand-ins and loans often making up the bulk of the business.

Will the mid-season break for the World Cup this time have reinvigorated those working in football recruitment departments? Cody Gakpo’s stock rose in Qatar and the PSV and Netherlands winger is now closing in on a move to Liverpool.

Here’s what else is worth watching out for…

Ronaldo-gate

Now a free agent, Cristiano Ronaldo doesn’t actually have to wait until the window opens to make a move.

Ronaldo, who was benched for several Portugal games at the World Cup, has been widely linked with a switch to Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr but his next move has not yet been finalised.

Ronaldo’s Manchester United contract was mutually terminated before he began his World Cup campaign (Photo: Francois Nel/Getty Images)

In his absence, Manchester United will have to scour the market for a new striker. His exit has left them short-staffed in that department and Erik ten Hag says he wants a replacement.

The only players in the squad currently capable of playing in that position are Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford. The latter, fresh from having his contract extension triggered, has shown this season that he is much more valuable out wide than down the middle.

However, with the vast amounts of money spent by United during the summer and any January outlay taken from next summer’s budget, an experienced lower-cost option could be targeted this time around…

World Cup heroes in demand

Major tournaments have constantly proved excellent opportunities for players to put themselves in the shop window.

Nowadays, clubs are seemingly more cautious at pulling the trigger after a handful of stand-out performances on the world stage but that doesn’t make those performances any easier to ignore.

Morocco stars Sofyan Amrabat and Azzedine Ounahi starred in midfield for the north Africans in Qatar, but Fiorentina want to keep Amrabat until the summer and leading clubs are likely to watch closely to see whether form for country continues for club.

Jude Bellingham hammered home all the reasons why he is being tracked by each of Europe’s elite clubs at the tournament.

Bellingham is Liverpool’s top midfield target but that would deal be one for next summer rather than January and the situation is complicated by the fact Liverpool’s owners Fenway Sports Group (FSG) are currently trying to bring in new investment.

Bellingham’s seemingly imminent departure from Dortmund might have to wait until the summer (Photo: Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

The likes of Dominic Livakovic, Enzo Fernandez, Mohammed Kudus and Joao Felix all impressed for their respective nations, though summer moves might be more realistic for a couple of them.

Arsenal eyeing Mudryk deal

There could be a big transfer in the offing at the Emirates.

The Athletic’s David Ornstein reported earlier this month that Mykhaylo Mudryk was Arsenal’s top target for the January transfer window — and an offer worth up to €65million (£57million) has now been submitted.

Shakhtar’s valuation is close to €100m and though alternative possibilities will be explored – especially after Gabriel Jesus’ World Cup injury — the Ukrainian forward is the priority.

New managers will need backing

Wolves and Southampton made the pre-World Cup decisions to make a managerial changes.

With both stuck in the relegation zone, Julen Lopetegui and Nathan Jones will want to put their own spin on their new clubs.

Wolves are seemingly willing to back the former and have already confirmed a deal for Matheus Cunha, with other targets in their sights.

Meanwhile, Jones will also be looking for financial support from those above him. He has hinted that it will be a busy month at St Mary’s and it needs to be if they are to get themselves out of trouble.

Players available at cut prices

One of the intriguing subplots of the January transfer window is what happens to the players with only six months left on their contracts.

In the Premier League, those in that situation can be sign pre-contract agreements with foreign clubs. Other English clubs can still chance their arms though in the hope that their interest will be enough to warn off suitors elsewhere until the summer.

Kante is one of the players whose contract will expire in the summer (Photo: Michael Regan/Getty Images)

There is also the temptation of clubs to cash in on their players rather than lose them for free at the end of the season.

There are tens of top-drawer players whose contracts are set to expire in June. Here are a few to keep an eye on in January.

Premier League club-by-club guide to January transfer window

Last year, Premier League clubs spent an eye-watering £295million on players over the course of the month — the second highest sum ever spent in a winter window (2018 retains the record at £430million). That sum was inflated by the spending of Newcastle United, cash-rich following their Saudi-backed takeover in the October, but do not rule out similar levels of outlay this year as clubs assess their squads.

The Athletic’s experts have assessed their own club’s prospects for the next few weeks, identifying possible targets, explaining who has the final say on deals and which current players might be leaving.

Read our club-by-club January transfer guide — just click or tap on your team for in-depth analysis of their plans.

(Top photo: Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

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