Player transfer window open from 2 January to 1 February
16 December 2020 – The winter transfer window for the 2020–21 season in the Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 will begin in a few weeks’ time on Saturday, 2 January 2021, and last until Monday, 1 February 2021, meaning that new arrivals can play on matchday 15 of the Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 (8–11 January) at the earliest. This is in line with the requirements of the Player Licensing Rules. It states that the deadline for issuing a player licence for the matches scheduled on Saturday, Sunday and Monday is the preceding Friday. In the forthcoming transfer window, this requirement can be implemented by matchday 15 at the earliest.
In the current season, it should also be taken into account that a player will be granted a licence to play only if that player has had the specified number of PCR tests, as stated in the medical and hygiene-related concept formulated by the Sports Medicine / Special Match Operations Task Force, depending on the pandemic level and at the intervals specified in the strategy, and if the result in each case is negative.
In the match-free period between matchdays 13 (18–21 December) and 14 (2–4 January) in the Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2, two PCR tests must be performed within one week and no more than five days apart. In the case of clubs that suspend training operations for more than five days during the match-free period, two negative PCR tests at least 24 hours apart are required prior to the first regular team training session following the break. For matchday 14, it remains the case that if the pandemic level is high, the last test for the home team must be conducted no earlier than 36 hours before a match, and the last test for away teams must be conducted no earlier than 52 hours before a match.
About the transfer windows
The FIFA rules stipulate that the transfer of a player to another club can occur only within two transfer windows that are set by the respective association. In German professional football, these are generally transfer window I (summer) and transfer window II (winter). The corresponding registration applications and the complete contract documents must be submitted to DFL and provided via the online-based Transfer Online Registration system (TOR) by no later than 6 p.m. on the last day of the transfer window.
Find out more about the TOR system here (video in German with English subtitles):
