The winter transfer window of 2025, which will run from January 1 to February 3, opens in an unprecedented context.
On Monday, FIFA announced the establishment of a temporary framework to regulate certain aspects of player transfers, following a landmark ruling by the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU).
This ruling, issued on October 4, involved a legal dispute between former French international Lassana Diarra and FIFA. Diarra, who notably played for Real Madrid, had been contesting the conditions surrounding his contract termination with Lokomotiv Moscow for the past decade.
The Russian club had demanded up to €20 million from him, a claim the CJEU ruled as contrary to the principles of free movement for professional players.
To prevent future disputes and ensure stability in the transfer market, FIFA has introduced temporary adjustments. These changes focus on matters such as contract termination compensation, joint responsibility for clubs, incentives for contract termination, and the issuance of international transfer certificates. The goal, according to FIFA, is to “enhance clarity and stability” during this transfer window.
The Diarra case highlighted the financial and sporting stakes involved in contractual disputes between players and clubs. With these new, albeit temporary, measures, the transfer market now benefits from a clearer and more flexible framework.
