Summer transfer window set to open in August, slam shut in October — report

Under normal circumstances, the domestic transfer window would’ve been open for a couple weeks already at this point, while the international transfer window would’ve followed suit on the customary July 1 date.

Obviously, neither of those are going to take place on their previously scheduled dates. In fact, according to yesterday’s rumors, the transfer window won’t actually open until some time in August — or perhaps even as late as the beginning of September like the Serie A have already decided — and will not slam shut (it always slams) until at least a month later, in early October. According to Sky, there’s some consensus Europe-wide to make that deadline October 2.

Since the Premier League usually likes to open the window after the last match of the season, we could be seeing new arrivals in early August already — which would certainly be welcome news to the likes of Hakim Ziyech and Timo Werner.

Ziyech’s transfer has already been agreed for July 1, though it’s unclear if FIFA would allow him to change registrations at that time already, or if he would have to wait until August. Either way, he wouldn’t be eligible for any matches that still counted for the 2019-20 season.

Timo Werner’s situation could be quite similar as well, with the Bundesliga currently slated to wrap up before June 30. But again, it’s unclear how and when his registration would get changed from Leipzig to Chelsea if the international transfer window doesn’t open until later in the summer.

Regardless of registrations, both signings should be able to start training with Chelsea after July 1, if not earlier, so even if their paperwork will have to navigate through extra layers of bureaucracy, they should be able to start acclimating to the squad. Given the likelihood of a very short, if any break between seasons for Chelsea, that could make a huge difference in the two of them quickly living up to hype and expectations.