This winter transfer window promises to be crucial for all the major European clubs. Olympique de Marseille, in particular, will have to seize this opportunity to improve its squad while optimizing its accounts. Here's everything you need to know about the upcoming 2025 winter transfer market.
With the opening of the winter transfer window in January 2025, European clubs are preparing for a decisive transfer period. In France, the window will extend from January 1 to February 3 at 11 p.m., an opportunity for teams like Olympique de Marseille to make strategic adjustments to their squad.
OM facing important choices
At Olympique de Marseille, it is time for reflection. The club will have to manage several potential departures, including those of Chancel Mbemba, Bamo Meïté, Amine Harit, Murillo, and Lirola. Arriving this summer, Lilian Brassier and Ismaël Koné could also be affected in the event of significant offers. This is not the case for Élie Wahi: the club does not intend to sell its striker, even if the latter had a disappointing first part of the season. The mission is twofold: lighten the group while strengthening key positions for the second half of the season.
Transfer periods in Europe
The market Winter 2025 will open on Wednesday January 1, 2025 for French clubs. They will have until Monday February 3 at 11 p.m. to complete their transfers.
If the dates of the French transfer window are aligned with those of England and Germany, other European countries adopt slightly different calendars. In Italy and Spain, the market will open on January 2 and close as elsewhere on February 3. Portugal, for its part, will extend by one day until February 4, while Belgium will start later, on January 7.
In certain nations, such as Russia or Poland, the transfer windows are even further apart. Russian clubs will have until February 20 to complete their transactions, and Polish teams until February 22. Switzerland, for its part, will authorize movements between January 15 and February 17.
Limitations for teams in the Champions League
Clubs involved in the Champions League will have to deal with specific constraints. New recruits will not be allowed to play the last two days of the group stage scheduled for January. However, they may be registered for the round of 16, provided that the club respects the quota of three new registrations for this phase.
Diarra ruling: a revolution in the transfer market that is still unclear
The Diarra ruling, handed down by the Court of Justice of the European Union, calls into question certain FIFA rules regarding player transfers. From now on, a player could terminate his contract by paying his salary until the end, without exposing his new club to major sanctions. However, this decision, which could reshape the transfer market, remains unclear for many football players.
In the short term, clubs and agents consider its impact limited. While some Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 leaders are exploring the legal implications, others highlight the uncertainty and the time needed for concrete implementation, estimated at several years. In the meantime, FIFA has established a “temporary framework” to govern this first post-stoppage winter transfer window, without an immediate upheaval being expected. However, from next summer, adaptations could occur, depending on the evolution of discussions between clubs, leagues and European authorities.
Also read: Mercato OM: “You bring him back to my team”, when Bielsa demanded this young crack from Labrune!
