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Fifa introduce unprecedented THIRD transfer window with major change set to come in next year
A host of star names could be affected by the changes
FIFA have announced a special transfer loophole will be created for next summer’s new Club World Cup.
Chelsea and Manchester City will be England’s representatives in the 32-team tournament to be played in the USA.
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And both Prem clubs - and their rivals - will be able to complete some of next season’s transfers early to allow the players to take part in Fifa’s new flagship competition.
Under current transfer regulations, the majority of contracts, alongside player registration periods, run until June 30.
The new competition will be played from June 15 to July 13 - meaning that players and managers could theoretically be out of contract half-way through.
Current contracts for City’s Kevin de Bruyne and Ilkay Gundogan will expire on June 30, as will Pep Guardiola’s, although the manager has indicated he is keen to sign a new deal.
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Jadon Sancho’s loan spell at Chelsea is also due to finish on the same date, while Harry Kane’s Bayern Munich have SEVEN senior players out of contract at the end of the season.
But at Thursday's meeting of Fifa’s ruling Council, global chiefs agreed “unanimously” to bring in rules that will only apply to the 32 teams taking part.
As long as their national associations, including the FA, agree, competing clubs will be allowed an 10-day “exceptional registration window” from June 1, allowing players joining them to play in the planned £600m prize fund tournament.
There will also be a second temporary window lasting six days from June 27 for participating clubs to replace or re-register players who start the tournament on their books but whose contract then lapse mid-competition.
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The changes mean Bayern could end up facing Real Madrid target, Canada’s Alphonse Davies, former Etihad winger Leroy Sane, versatile defender and midfielder Joshua Kimmich or keeper Manuel Neuer in the US less than three weeks after they feature for the Bavarians in the Champions League Final in the Allianz Arena.
Early registration will only be permitted if both clubs and the players involved approve and nobody will be allowed to play for two teams during the month of action.
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Fifa said the “objective” was to “encourage clubs and players whose contracts are expiring to find an appropriate solution to facilitate the players’ participation”.
In an additional move, Fifa chiefs agreed that any players called up for the Concacaf Gold Cup taking place on the west coast of the USA at the same time will have the choice of whether to represent their club or nation.
That mainly applies to Mexican players, with three clubs - Monterrey, Club Leon and Pachuca - having qualified for the Fifa tournament but would also see left-back Davies having to choose between club or country.
Fifa President Gianni Infantino said: “The FIFA Club World Cup 2025 will kick off a new era for club football across the world, with the top teams competing to be crowned the official FIFA club world champions.
“These regulations will ensure that the best possible conditions are in place in order for all 32 participating clubs and the best players in the world to shine at the highest level.”
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