Transfer day: What and when is the deadline for club football signings?

Football clubs in the biggest leagues across Europe have their last chance to sign new players as the 2026 summer transfer window approaches its deadline on Tuesday.

English Premier League clubs have been the most active during the summer signing period, with Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City leading the way in expenses. Real Madrid and Barcelona have also welcomed some new faces in La Liga.

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Al Jazeera breaks down everything you need to know about transfer deadline day:

Deadline day in the transfer window refers to the final opportunity clubs have to complete signings and strengthen their squads for the upcoming season.

When is transfer deadline day 2026 in England, Spain and other European countries?

The summer transfer window 2026 will close on the following days and times in Europe’s top leagues:

• Premier League (England): Tuesday, September 1 at 11pm (22:00 GMT)
• La Liga (Spain): Tuesday, September 1 at 11:59pm (22:00 GMT)
• Bundesliga (Germany): Monday, August 31 at 8pm (19:00 GMT)
• Ligue 1 (France): Monday, August 31 at 8pm (19:00 GMT)
• Serie A (Italy): Tuesday, September 1 at 8pm (19:00 GMT)

Chelsea have been the busiest club in this summer transfer window [File: David Klein/Reuters]

Can signings be made after the transfer deadline?

Yes, but only in the Premier League. Even as the transfer window closes, deals can still be announced after the deadline has passed, as clubs have a two-hour grace period to complete a signing if they have submitted a deal sheet prior to the deadline.

A deal sheet allows a club to confirm that an agreement has been reached in order to allow for additional time to submit the remaining documentation.

Clubs in all leagues can sign players as free agents after the deadline, as long as the player is not officially attached to another club when the window closes.

⚽ Bradly Barcola
Liverpool announced the signing of France international Bradley Barcola from Paris Saint-Germain on Monday, making him the most expensive signing in the Premier League so far.

The 23-year-old signed a five-year deal in a package ⁠worth about $162m with the Merseyside club.

⚽ Morgan Rogers
Chelsea signed Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa on July 21 for a British record 117 million pounds ($158m), roping in the 23-year-old attacking midfielder on a deal until 2033.

⚽ Elliot Anderson
Manchester City signed midfielder Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest for a club record 116 million pounds ($153m). At the time of the signing on July 2, it was a British record transfer.

⚽ Yan Diomande
Real Madrid spent a club record 140 million euros ($161m) to buy 19-year-old Ivory Coast winger Yan Diomande from RB Leipzig. The Bundesliga Young Player of the Season in 2025-26 reportedly signed a deal until 2033.

Chelsea’s 23-year-old Morgan Rogers, established as one of the Premier League’s top attacking talents, has signed a contract with the London team until 2033 [File: Adrian Dennis/AFP]

⚽ Sandro Tonali
Italy’s midfielder Sandro Tonali signed for Tottenham Hotspur from Newcastle United for 92.5 million pounds ($125m). The ex-AC Milan player spent three seasons at St James’ Park.

⚽ Mateus Fernandes
Portugal midfielder Mateus Fernandes signed for Tottenham from West Ham United for 85 million pounds ($112m). The 22-year-old was nominated for the Premier League Young Player of the Season award last season.

⚽ Ayoub Bouaddi
After an impressive quarterfinal campaign with Morocco at the FIFA World Cup 2026, Ayoub Bouaddi joined Man City from Lille for 100 million euros ($110m). The 18-year-old French-born midfielder had three years left on his Lille deal.

Ayyoub Bouaddi has left Lille to play for Man City this season [File: Benoit Tessier/Reuters]

⚽ Savinho
Brazil winger Savinho, also known as Savio, signed for Tottenham from Man City for 85 million pounds ($102m). Savinho started at Atletico Mineiro and joined Troyes in 2022, but his breakout season came on loan at Girona, where he scored 11 goals in 41 appearances.

⚽ Bruno Guimaraes
Bruno Guimaraes, the Newcastle United captain, signed for Arsenal for 75 million pounds ($101m). The Brazilian, one of the Premier League’s most influential midfielders, has penned a four-year contract with a further one-year option.

⚽ Carlos Baleba
Cameroon international Carlos Baleba signed for Manchester United from Brighton & Hove Albion for 70 million pounds ($88.7m), becoming the third midfielder to be roped in by the Red Devils during this window.

⚽ Anthony Gordon
Anthony Gordon realised his long-held dream of playing for Barcelona when he signed from Newcastle for 70 million euros ($80m). The England international even answered questions in Spanish on the day the La Liga club unveiled him.

English player Anthony Gordon poses during his official presentation as a new player of FC Barcelona at Palau Blaugrana Arena in Barcelona, on May 29, 2026 [AFP]

Cody Gakpo transfer update: Man City in talks with Liverpool

British media reported over the weekend that Liverpool and Manchester City are in talks to reach an agreement over the sale of Dutchman Cody Gakpo.

Gakpo, also a target for Tottenham Hotspur, expressed interest in joining City after Liverpool was heavily linked with a potential move for PSG’s Bradley Barcola.

Ismaila Sarr linked with Liverpool, Iliman Ndiaye closes in on Spurs move

With Gakpo’s future at Liverpool in doubt, the Reds are reportedly interested in signing winger Ismaila Sarr from Crystal Palace. Meanwhile, Tottenham has reached an agreement to sign winger Iliman Ndiaye from Everton.

Which clubs have spent the most money on transfers in the 2026-27 season?

Premier League clubs cumulatively spent more than 2 billion pounds ($2.7bn) this summer, with Chelsea the highest spender at $476m, followed by Tottenham, which spent $413.8m, while Man City is the third-highest spender with $318.9m.

Newcastle is fourth on the list with an expenditure of $294.7m, while Arsenal rounds out the top five, at $265m.

Which other clubs could sign players on transfer deadline day?

• Man City: Apart from its interest in Gakpo, City is also reportedly lining up a big-money move for midfielder Enzo Fernandez from Chelsea.
• Chelsea: Should Fernandez leave, Chelsea needs a replacement, and it has been linked with Lamine Camara from AS Monaco.
• Barcelona: The Catalan club is expected to sign striker Gabriel Jesus from Arsenal for about 10 million euros ($11.6m). It is also interested in bringing in Julian Alvarez from Atletico Madrid, which has priced him at 150 million euros ($174m).
• Arsenal: The club is also linked with Alvarez, and it could have a better chance than Barcelona at signing him, as Atletico is not eager to sell the Argentinian to a fellow La Liga club.

Atletico Madrid’s Argentinian forward Julian Alvarez is linked with two clubs [File: Pierre-Philippe Marcou/AFP]

Who are the top five deadline day signings?

• Cristiano Ronaldo (2021): Portugal forward Ronaldo returned to his boyhood club Man United after 12 years, signing a sensational deadline-day deal from Juventus that eventually saw him score 18 goals in 30 appearances that season.
• Wayne Rooney (2004): An 18-year-old Rooney joined Man United from his boyhood club Everton, becoming the most expensive teenager in world football at that time. His spell at United saw him lift 13 major trophies, including five Premier League titles.
• Mesut Ozil (2013): Joining the Gunners in a then-club record deal from Real Madrid, Ozil went on to spend seven-and-a-half years at the North London club, winning three FA Cups.
• Luis Suarez (2011): Signing for Liverpool in a chaotic deadline-day deal, Suarez, one of the greatest strikers of his generation, made more than 100 appearances in three seasons at Anfield.
• Cole Palmer (2023): Since leaving Man City for Chelsea in 2023-24, attacking midfielder Palmer has established himself as one of the most impactful players at Stamford Bridge.

Cristiano Ronaldo rejoined Man United at the age of 36 [File: Martin Rickett/PA via AP]

What are the five most bizarre transfer deadline day stories?

• A broken fax machine: In 2015, Man United goalkeeper David de Gea was set to join Real Madrid in a high-profile move, but the deal reportedly collapsed after technical issues with the club’s fax machine meant the paperwork did not arrive in time.
• So close yet so far: Despite completing his medical and posing with a Bayern Munich jersey for customary photos during the 2023 window, Joao Palhinha had to make his way back to London from Munich after the transfer reportedly fell through at the last minute.
• A helicopter ride gone wrong: In 2010, West Ham reportedly sent a helicopter to bring Ryan Babel to London from Liverpool, but after the deal did not go through, there was no flying back home. Babel was dropped off at a train station.
• A not-so-welcome arrival: West Bromwich Albion’s Peter Odemwingie thought he had secured a transfer to Queens Park Rangers in January 2013 and drove to Loftus Road believing he would complete the formalities. But Odemwingie was left outside in his car and denied entry into the stadium after both clubs said a fee had not been agreed.
• The wrong button: Duncan McGuire’s transfer from Orlando City to Blackburn Rovers in February 2024 broke down with McGuire mid-flight from Orlando’s training camp in Mexico. Why? Blackburn thought they had clicked “submit paperwork” on the English Football League’s transfer system before the deadline but instead hit “save”.