A transfer window is when players are allowed to move as a result of a transfer agreement, including an agreement concluded before the window opened. If the agreement is well-drafted, the courts will enforce it. All Matt would have to do is point to other offers he'd turned down because of the Lyon deal, even much inferior deals, for him to be awarded a minimum of 2 years salary under that agreement as well as his legal costs. And the possibility of punitive damages shouldn't be ruled out.
Every major European league's season ends by May, and no major European season begins any earlier than August (or late July in the case of a few mid-tier leagues like Belgium and Denmark). So what does it mean that July 1 is the earliest "players are allowed to move"? Does it mean they're not allowed to step onto a pitch and train with a club in June? If not (and based on a quick google search, it does not seem like there's anything stopping players from training earlier with the permission of both clubs), I'm still a little confused about the practical significance of that July 1 date. Take the Premier League for example. The last game of the prior season was May 25 (and the last cup competition would have been May 31 if any EPL team had made it to the Champions League final). The first game of the upcoming season is August 15 (and the first cup competition is August 10, for teams that participate in the Community Shield). So if the transfer window opened June 1 or August 1, instead of July 1, would any of those dates make any real difference for anyone in practical terms?
Two key things to remember here: 1. "transfer windows" are actually "registration windows". The way FIFA governs transfers is through the member associations (The FA, FFF, USSF, etc). Those bodies either register players for competitions they govern or they enable a different body under their jurisdiction to register players (eg: LFP in France and EFL/PL in England)... either way, the details are all logged in FIFA's "Transfer Matching Systems" (TMS), which is supposed to serve as a central "source of truth" for the timing of this process. When a transfer window "opens", it means a club is allowed to register players with the association for participation in competitions governed by the association. If the player was previously registered to a different club, the registration application has to include details like a transfer agreement between the relevant clubs, a valid ITC if the player is transferring internationally, or proof that the player's last contract was legally nullified (contract expires, player and club sign a valid mutual termination agreement, buyout in Spain, etc). 2. The FFF/LFP opened the Ligue 1 registration window on June 16th. The FA opened the PL registration window on July 1st. So, between 6/16 and 6/30, it was valid for a player previously registered with a British club to move and be registered by a French club, but not vice versa. Because the FFF's window opened on June 16th, but DNCG didn't relegate Lyon until June 24th, there was a window of time where NF and Lyon could have completed Matt's transfer (or at least set in motion the process for completing Matt's transfer). Because governing associations have seven days to issue an ITC once the association of the purchasing club requests it (RSTP, Annex 3.11.3), there could have been genuine confusion about whether or not Matt's transfer was "valid" when the DNCG's announcement was made. As far as I know, clubs are not required to announce completed transfers, which is how we were left in the dark for weeks.
It means that a player is under contract with and registered with Club A (Forest in this case) up to midnight on the day before the window opens. Once the window opens, a contractually agreed transfer can take effect and his registration will be transferred to Club B (i.e. OL). The window is only relevant to the timing of the player's registration transfer. It's like a pre-contract agreement. If the transfer agreement is legally sound and UEFA/FIFA ratify the registration transfer, the player and both clubs are bound by it, whoever owns the buying club.
This summer was also different because of the additional transfer window in June. It was applied because of the Club World Cup over the summer.
@bungadiri @TheFalseNine @dark knight While I do appreciate the title of this thread, it means that "Turner" does not show up in BS title search. Adding it somewhere might help.
Question, since Turner is on loan at the Revs, are they paying his salary or is Lyon? Considering they put it out there that they didn't want him, it got me thinking. Also what's the new step for him once this season ends/World Cup is over?
Lyon is most likely paying, and his next move all depends if he plays this summer and how well he does.
The reporting at the time of the deal was that New England were paying his salary. For instance: Matt Turner’s Move to Lyon Strengthened by New Transfer Detail - Yahoo Sports "Now that Lyon are committed to the deal they intend to loan Turner back to MLS side New England Revolution where he played before he moved to Europe. The Revolution will pay his salary and have an option to buy" Turner also recently said in an interview with Donovan and Howard that after he transferred to Lyon he was told by the club that his salary would be the difference between the club being relegated to Ligue 2 over financial issues and staying in the top flight, and that influenced his decision to go to New England. So presumably that means that New England took on his salary.
yep I was wrong and you are correct: 2025 New England Revolution Salaries and Contracts | Capology: Football Salaries & Finances
We already knew he was the best goalkeeper in MLS, but glad to see him reconfirm it. Unless he plays in the World Cup, I still think it’s an easy decision for Lyon to sell him.
He'll stay a Rev for a while. And I'm not Lyon! There is only one Matt Turner and he is here to stay! 🔵🔴The Revolution extended Turner's loan from French club Olympique Lyonnais (Lyon) through the end of 2026 with an option to extend through the end of 2027, at which point the Revs have a purchase option.➥… pic.twitter.com/N0oer0IA2Y— New England Revolution (@NERevolution) July 13, 2026
Can anyone explain how on earth paying him $1.7-1.9m a year makes sense for the Revs. As in: Any. Sense. At. All
MLS wages are getting out of hand in relationship to the talent. Nobody is paying Matt Turner $2 million a year to play soccer anywhere in the world outside of MLS. Probably not even half of that. I am growing increasingly concerned we are going to end up in a LigaMX situation where American players can earn 4x as much as they would abroad to stay in MLS. We have already seen some of this of course but it's getting worse.