has been split into two distinct phases to accommodate the impending - and expanded - which is set to take place in the United States.

Fans may have been surprised to see the window open as early as Sunday, June 1 - and left scratching their heads when it was announced that it would close just nine days later. football.london can explain the reasoning behind this unusual schedule.

To allow clubs to register players ahead of the newly expanded Club World Cup, which kicks off on June 15, a short transfer window has been created. This mini window runs from Sunday, June 1 to Tuesday, June 10, and it applies to all clubs, not just tournament participants such as and

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After this early window closes, the primary summer transfer window will reopen on Monday June 16, and remain open until

The unusual six-day gap between the two windows is due to a regulation - requiring the window to open "at midnight on the date 12 weeks prior to the date on which it is to conclude."

There's also been a change to Deadline Day protocol. The cut-off time has been moved from 11pm to 7pm, though clubs will still be granted a two-hour extension if paperwork is submitted by the deadline.

These changes - introduced to align with the Club World Cup - have been approved by the Premier League, , and FA. Similar adjustments are expected to be adopted across European football.

The 2026 winter transfer window is scheduled to run from January 1 to February 2 - though an exact closing time has yet to be confirmed.

Several Premier League teams have already taken advantage of the early window.

, meanwhile, , who was sold to Lazio for £6m. Mikel Arteta’s search for a striker, however, is expected to carry into the main summer window.

Despite a return to Champions League football next season, are yet to confirm any transfer activity.