Need to know
Plenty of teams will be eyeing up a pre-contract agreement during the January transfer window, which will allow them to sign a player on a free in the summer, but there are certain rules to follow to reach an agreement.
Everything you need to know about a pre-contract agreement and rules for the January transfer window
- What is a pre-contract agreement: A pre-contract deal occurs when a player agrees to sign for a new team immediately after their current deal ends. This process begins after the interested club provides a formal written notice of their intent to start negotiations.
- The six-month rule: Discussions regarding a move can legally begin when a player has just six months remaining on their existing contract. This timeframe is strictly regulated, and any breaches of this requirement can result in penalties from football associations.
- International transfer rules: The six-month negotiation window applies exclusively to players moving between clubs in different countries. For instance, a Spanish team can talk to a Premier League player in January, even though another English team cannot.
- Domestic restrictions in England: English clubs are prohibited from entering pre-contract talks with players at other English clubs until the final month of a deal. This rule ensures that domestic rivals cannot easily poach talent while the season is still reaching its peak.
- The Bosman ruling legacy: These transfer rights were established by the landmark 1995 Bosman ruling, which focused on the freedom of movement for professional athletes. It was named after Jean-Marc Bosman, who fought for the right to leave his club after his contract expired.
- Premier League players available: Several stars like Marc Guehi, Ibrahima Konate, Bernardo Silva, and John Stones are currently entering the final months of their Premier League deals. That means they could agree a deal with a club abroad in Janaury.
- Players available abroad: Abroad, elite talents such as Dayot Upamecano, Dusan Vlahovic and Mike Maignan are also approaching the point where they can sign pre-contracts. They are among the players that Premier League clubs could sign in the next month.
