Portugal, the U.S., and Others—Where Players Like Sylla Could Still Go

Moussa Sylla’s transfer to New York City FC has fallen through, but that doesn’t mean Schalke can’t still sell its striker. An overview of the open transfer windows.

German professional soccer clubs now have certainty: The transfer window closed on Monday evening at 8 p.m.—and with it, the last chance to bolster their rosters for the second half of the season. No further signings are possible now. Clubs can also no longer sign free agents; that, too, was only possible until the end of the winter transfer window.

And yet, there could still be some movement in the rosters. That’s because players can still be transferred even after the transfer window closes—provided the transfer window is still open in the league of the receiving club. While the deadline ended Monday evening in the top European leagues—Germany, England, Spain, Italy, and France—it remains open in some countries.

This applies, for example, to the Netherlands (February 3), Portugal (February 4), Austria, Turkey (both February 6), and Switzerland (February 16)—all interesting markets that regularly attract players from the German leagues. Transfers to North America’s Major League Soccer (MLS) are even possible until the end of March.

Incidentally, there were no major surprises on Deadline Day. The Bundesliga clubs acted with relative restraint. RB Leipzig made the most high-profile transfer by signing World Cup hopeful Brajan Gruda. The U-21 national team player is on loan from the English club Brighton & Hove Albion until the end of the season and hopes to earn a spot on the World Cup roster in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico with strong performances.

Winter Transfer Window: It’s still open in these countries

February 3: Portugal

February 6: Austria, Greece, Turkey

February 9: Mexico

February 10: Australia

February 12: Czech Republic

February 14: Hungary

February 16: Switzerland

February 17: Croatia

February 24: Bulgaria

February 25: Poland

March 3: Brazil

March 10: Argentina

March 26: USA

March 27: Norway

April 4: Finland