Every summer and every January, football fans follow the transfer market as closely as the matches. But what actually happens when a player moves from one club to another? Here is the process explained step by step.

The transfer windows

Clubs can only register new players during official transfer windows. In Europe there are two each season: a long summer window, usually from June to the start of September, and a shorter winter window in January. Clubs can agree deals at any time, but the player can only be registered to play once a window is open. Free agents, players without a club, can usually sign outside the windows.

Step 1: interest and negotiation

A buying club identifies a target, often after months of scouting and data analysis. It then makes an offer to the selling club. Negotiations cover the fee, the payment schedule and any extra clauses. At the same time, the buying club negotiates personal terms with the player and his representatives: salary, contract length, bonuses and image rights.

Step 2: the fee

Transfer fees are rarely paid in one go. A typical deal includes:

• A guaranteed fee, often paid in instalments over several years.
• Add-ons, extra payments triggered by appearances, goals, trophies or qualification for the Champions League.
• A sell-on clause, giving the selling club a percentage of any future transfer.
• Buy-back clauses, allowing the selling club to re-sign the player for a fixed price.

That is why reported fees often appear as “up to” a certain amount. The headline number usually includes add-ons that may never be paid.

Step 3: the medical

Before signing, the player undergoes a detailed medical examination, including fitness tests and scans. A failed medical can collapse a deal or lead to a renegotiated fee.

Step 4: signing and registration

Once everything is agreed, contracts are signed and the transfer is registered through FIFA’s Transfer Matching System and the national association. Only then is the deal official, which is why clubs announce signings with the word “official” or a photo of the player holding his new shirt.

The role of agents

Agents represent players and sometimes clubs. They negotiate contracts, find new clubs for their clients and earn commission on deals. FIFA has introduced new rules to regulate agent fees and licensing.

Release clauses

In Spain every contract must include a release clause, a price at which the player can buy himself out of his contract. Neymar’s world-record move from Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain in 2017 happened when PSG paid his release clause of 222 million euros. Read more in our guide to loans and release clauses, and see the most expensive transfers in history.