The deal sheet rule that could see Premier League clubs sign players after transfer deadline

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(UPDATE: The rule below also applies to the 2025 summer transfer window – where the deadline was set at 7pm)

After more than a month of movement, the transfer window finally closes at 11pm tonight.

There has actually been more time than usual for Premier League clubs to recruit new players this winter with the introduction of a February 3rd transfer deadline – which was created to align with other leagues across Europe.

However, we could actually still see some late transfer activity on these shores after the 11pm deadline thanks to the existence of a deal sheet, but what exactly is a deal sheet? Let’s take a look.

What is a deal sheet?

A deal sheet is effectively a way for clubs to tell the Premier League that a transfer has been agreed – but they just need a bit more time to finalise the official documents.

Premier League clubs can only use a deal sheet after 9pm, and it must be submitted before 11pm.

Summer 2025: The deadline was at 7pm – so clubs needed to have the details of a deal sheet completed between 5pm and then.

If all the relevant details are filled in, the Premier League grant an extra two hours for the deal to be completed.

You can see an example of a deal sheet below.

Arsenal signed Raheem Sterling using a deal sheet last summer – and once all media duties had been carried out, the Gunners ended up announcing the signing around 2am.

However, this is only applicable to domestic transfers, and clubs must comply with the FIFA Transfer Matching System (TMS) deadline of midnight if they want to complete an international signing from abroad.

What is the FIFA Transfer Matching System?

The Premier League describe the FIFA Transfer Matching System as follows.

“When there is an international transfer, the buying and selling clubs have to register it on FIFA’s Transfer Matching System (TMS) in order for international clearance to be generated.

“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 as everything matches, the foreign association will issue clearance to the FA, who then informs the club and League.”

EFL clubs are now excluded from using a deal sheet

In years gone by, those in the English Football League (EFL) – meaning Championship, League One and League Two clubs – have also been allowed to submit a deal sheet for late transfers.

However, the EFL have now put a stop to it.

An official statement reads: “In the EFL, all documentation must be provided prior to the deadline closing for the registration of a player to go through.”

There is – however – the presence of a ‘quick application’ which gives EFL clubs an extra 15 minutes to finalise transfers.

It is said: “If a club is in a Full Application at 10:30pm, they will receive a warning that states the system will open a Quick Application at 10:45pm, where only certain fields need to be completed.

“In those last 15 minutes of the Transfer Window, EFL systems allow clubs to submit the necessary registration form without completing the full application process. Where they do this, the clubs then have a further 15 minutes to complete the full application process. This avoids clubs missing the deadline in circumstances where they have agreed and signed all necessary documents with another club and the player before 11pm, but still need time to complete the full application.”