Premier League transfer deal sheets as clubs race to complete deadline day moves

01 February 2024 , 09:00

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Jadon Sancho joined Borussia Dortmund from Manchester United in this window (Image: AFP via Getty Images)

There are unlikely to be a flurry of late deals in the quietest January transfer window in recent memory. But should a Premier League club attempt to secure a last-gasp signing tonight, they will be rushing to get their deal sheet in before the 11pm deadline.

And yet some mystery surrounds what the deal sheet really is and the purpose it serves. Which is why Mirror Football are providing this 101 explainer to outline what it means should your club be rushing to get a new star in tonight.

So what is the deal sheet?

It is essentially a document that permits clubs to get a two-hour extension to submit all the necessary paperwork. It is a notice to the Premier League that a deal has been agreed but time is needed for contracts, work permits to be finalised.

What is on the sheet?

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It begins with a crucial reminder in bold writing that "this form does not constitute a legally binding contract" and contains a paragraph allowing clubs to "declare that negotiations for the transfer/loan of [Player]... have been concluded prior to the closing of the transfer window."

And that is followed by a space for clubs to include the fee payable, including a breakdown of "guaranteed sums" and "contingent payments".

And how do timings work?

Tonight’s deadline is at 11pm so if a club submits their deal sheet at bang on 11pm they get until 1am for all the remaining bits and pieces to be sent. For obvious reasons they cannot be sent before 9pm and if a sheet goes in at 10pm the extension will run until midnight.

Sounds straightforward so far but are there any catches?

Of course there is. If the transfer involves a club outside of England, they must also register the transfer on FIFA’s transfer matching system before the 11pm deadline. Sending a deal sheet to the Premier League is not sufficient if it is not also logged on the global governing body’s platform in time.

According to the Premier League: "The buying club have to upload all the information to the system and the foreign club have to match all the details. Our FA will request clearance and, as long everything matches, the foreign association will issue clearance to the FA, who then informs the club and League.

"The Premier League receives a copy because we need to ensure that players coming in have had their registration transferred to this country, or Wales in the case of Welsh clubs."

Alan Smith