Arsenal blocked from repeating summer transfer window trick next year

Arsenal can argue that they managed to complete one of the better transfer windows this summer compared to their Premier League rivals.

In a bid to go one better than they have managed in the last three seasons, Mikel Arteta was backed in the summer window and signed some experienced and promising players to strengthen his squad. Notable arrivals included; Viktor Gyokeres, Eberechi Eze and Martin Zubimendi.

Meanwhile, the Gunners also made some important deals to aid their financial position. Nuno Tavares and Marquinhos were among the players sold to bolster their Financial Fair Play (FFP) stance heading into the summer window.

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The end of June is ordinarily the cut off for clubs to balance their books ahead of the Premier League's Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) deadline. However, hopes of producing similar early deals in the summer to help avoid PSR punishments have been partially blocked in 2026.

This year, thanks to the Club World Cup in the USA, FIFA agreed to an early transfer window between June 1 and 10 to allow teams competing in the tournament to make additions to their squad. The window would then reopen again on June 16 for the remainder of the summer.

Despite not competing in the Club World Cup, Arsenal were able to utilise this early window and complete negotiations for players to allow for quick sales to be completed and count towards their financial position for the last year. Unfortunately for the Gunners, because there is no Club World Cup next year, the window will revert back to a more traditional schedule.

The summer window shall reopen on June 15 so Arsenal will have less time to ensure player sales are completed before the PSR deadline. This may not be an issue should the Gunners wish to spend frugally in January as there would be less need to balance the books at the end of the season.

However, clubs shall also be blocked from completing any deals earlier than usual which could be a big problem considering 2026 is a World Cup year. Players will wish to be left undisturbed while with their national teams and Arsenal shall be looking to tread a fine line between pushing for quick deals while also not annoying players and putting them off joining.

Summer windows during an international tournament year are notorious for seeing some outlandish transfers being approved. A player who has a good tournament can go from relative obscurity to the Premier League in an instant for Arteta and Andrea Berta will be eager to ensure they don't end up with egg on their face come deadline day.