FIFA approves later transfer windows and extensions to player contracts

To optimise for archiving, the original image and related documents associated with this article have been removed.

FIFA has given approval to move transfer windows to later in the season and to also extend player contracts until leagues are completed once the suspension due to coronavirus is lifted.

FIFA released guidelines in response to the Covid-19 situation which has affected sport worldwide and resulted in the suspension of football. The first guideline relates to player contracts and says that because player contracts expire when the season ends these will be extended so that contracts only expire once the season actually ends. The same rule applies to new contracts beginning, Hakim Ziyech was due to join Chelsea from Ajax on 1st July but this will now be delayed until the next season begins.

Guidance has also been issued for transfer windows with FIFA announcing that these will be moved so that they fall between the end of the current season and the beginning of the new season. A final point that was addressed was for FIFA to call for “football, like other sectors of the economy, has to find fair and equitable solutions tailored to these circumstances, hopefully with a view to protecting jobs and achieving a fair and reasonable balance of interests between players and clubs. Accordingly, FIFA strongly encourages clubs and players to work together to find agreements and solutions during the period when football is suspended.”

President Gianni Infantino “we hope that this collaborative effort can provide a positive example of how football can come together and show unity, solidarity and a spirit of compromise in order to face the challenging times ahead.”

You can read the full statement here.

You may also like

View All

Pinned Article

Sport Resolutions Annual Conference 2026: Early Bird Tickets Now on Sale

Early Bird tickets for the Sport Resolutions 11th Annual Conference are now available. Join leading sport and legal professionals in London on 7 May 2026 for a full day of discussion, insight, and networking

Read More

Professional tennis players told to remove fitness trackers during Australian Open 2026

Professional tennis players have been told to remove fitness trackers during the Australian Open 2026 as such technology is not yet allowed at Grand Slams, although regulations may be changed in the future

Read More

FIFPRO study shows three concussions may affect attention in professional footballers

In a recent study conducted by FIFPRO, the global union for professional footballers, it showed that players who reported three concussions performed significantly worse in tasks requiring attention, such as tracking the ball and opponents, maintaining positional awareness and reacting quickly during a match, compared with those who had two or fewer concussions, sparking calls for further research

Read More