I see ALOT of posters here going on ad nausium about the January transfer window and UEFA thinking that it has something to do with MLS. It doesn't. FIFA applys transfer window rules to each league to be applied to transfer of players INCOMING to a league. MLS PRIMARY TRANSFER WINDOW January 1- March 31 SECONDARY WINDOW August 15- September 15 http://web.mlsnet.com/about/league.jsp?section=regulations&content=overview In a nutsell, the UEFA January window is absolutly insignifiagnat to us. All these players we talk about from Europe can still transfer here after January 31st...they can still transfer here up to March 31st. Just want to clear that up for people because i have seen countless mis applications of the rule and a few questions about it.
So basically, UEFA Leagues have from Jan 1 to Jan 31 to sign MLS players while MLS has from Jan 1 to Mar 31 to sign UEFA players, correct?
Correct, Because of the difference in the MLS fixture schedule FIFA has imposed these dates. They did it in 2004 i believe. Also the Jan 1- mar 31 dates are for MLS to sign ANY player on a transfer from any federation not just UEFA
However, insofar as some of the players desired by MLS may also be targets of UEFA-based clubs (i.e. Beckham back to England), it is in MLS' interests to get a deal done early to compete with the shorter UEFA window.
It may sound obvious, but it's always good to remind people that a player that is out of contract when the window closes can still be signed in between windows.
Yes. Transfer windows are "inbound" windows. And as mentioned, they only affect players currently under contract. Additionally, MLS is a "single entity" with regards to transfers. USL's transfer windows differ slightly from MLS's.
Basically your right except FIFa didn't impose those specific dates. Prior to 2004 MLS didn't have any transfer windows. Players could pretty much come and go as they pleased during the season within MLS' league roster rules and the cutoff dates associated with them (i.e. trade deadlines, roster freeze dates etc. . .). In 2004 FIFA said MLS has to comply with FIFA's rules on transfers and declare 2 transfer windows as required, one that is before the season starts an can last no more than 12 weeks and the other that is somewhere in the middle of the season and is shorter, not lasting more than 4 weeks. MLS could have pick some slightly different dates, especially for the first window, like Feb. 1 to April 1. I think there were a few reasons for going with the dates they did, one being the Primary window coincided with many other leagues around the world so that a team wouldn't have to wait to bring in a foreign player and would have an easier time acclimating them to MLS and get productivity quicker. I personally think the first window could have been pushed back some so that a team could be closer to the start of the season and still bring in a foreign player potentially to replace an injured key player or because interests can change. Here is the relevant FIFA text: "The first Registration Period shall begin after the completion of the Season and shall normally end before the new Season starts. This period may not exceed twelve weeks. The second Registration Period shall normally occur in the middle of the Season and may not exceed four weeks. The two Registration Periods for the Season shall be communicated to FIFA at least 12 months before they come into force. FIFA shall determine the dates for any Association that fails to communicate them on time."
Though they cannot play until the next window opens up. Kamani Hill (UCLA) signed last month for Vfl Wolfsburg of the Bundesliga but cannot play until next month.