Yes, it is possible to confirm a player’s transfer to a new club even before the summer transfer window officially opens once the season comes to an end. Even if he is currently contracted to another club, clubs are allowed to agree on a deal prior to the summer.
It is not exactly a rare case – especially with players moving on a Bosman transfer. Players in the final year of their contracts are allowed to sign a pre-contract with another club if they are not happy with the terms offered by their current club.
Robert Lewandowski’s move from Borussia Dortmund to Bayern Munich is a perfect example as the eventual summer transfer was announced in January. In other cases, both clubs agree that the player will move in the next transfer window.
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We look at six players whose transfers have already been confirmed.
1) Kingsley Coman: Juventus to Bayern Munich
Young Kingsley Coman is only 20 years old but he has already won league titles in France, Italy and Germany. He played a very small role in Paris Saint-Germain’s Ligue 1 triumphs before moving to Juventus where he spent two seasons under Max Allegri. In Serie A, too, he was not afforded too many chances.
A two-year loan spell to Bayern Munich beckoned and the French winger has since made sincere contributions over the past two seasons despite the presence of Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery on either flank.
With four days left to trigger the clause that made his loan spell permanent, Bayern agreed to pay the €21m fee required to make him a permanent signing as they saw him as the future with the careers of Ribery (34) and Robben (33) coming to an end soon. The total fee came up to €35million.
“Kingsley Coman is an important building block for the future of our team, so we decided to take up the option.” Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge
2) Nabil Bentaleb: Tottenham Hotspur to Schalke
22-yaer-old Nabil Bentaleb made the step up from Tottenham Hotspur’s youth team to the senior squad in December 2013 and was a key member of the 2014/15 squad that finished fifth. He had clocked close to 2200 minutes in 26 appearances in the league.
However, a rash challenge on international duty with Algeria saw him sidelined much to Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino’s fury. Bentaleb was ruled out of action with an ankle injury and, later on in the season, a knee injury saw his season curtailed. He had played only 168 minutes of league football that season.
Spurs then decided to send him to Bundesliga side Schalke on a season-long deal to get some minutes under his belt. After a few games with the side from Gelsenkirchen, the Algerian midfielder was keen on staying at the club on a long-term basis.
“Even when I came to Schalke in the summer, it was my goal to play here as often as possible and convince the club to commit myself permanently.”
“It's good to have someone to trust you. The team of coaches, my teammates, the people responsible, the whole club have made it easy for me to feel at home with Schalke. I am happy to be part of the club.” – Bentaleb
The clubs got together and ironed out the details to make his dream come true in February and announced that Bentaleb would officially become a Schalke player at the end of the loan deal for a fee reported to be about £16m. He already has 5 goals and 4 assists this season.
3) Mahmoud Dahoud: Borussia Monchengladbach to Borussia Dortmund
More popularly known as Mo Dahoud, the Syrian-born German midfielder was in the final two years of his contract at Borussia Monchengladbach. He had rejected a contract extension at the start of the 2016/17 season as he wanted to leave the club in the summer of 2017.
A number of top clubs across Europe attempted to convince him to join them on a Bosman transfer, including the likes of Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain. A central midfielder who could even play in an attacking role, Dahoud has two goals and six assists so far this season.
Initially Granit Xhaka’s partner-in-crime in midfield before his move to Arsenal, Dahoud had the makings of an all-around midfielder who could provide an attacking impetus and also do the dirty work at the back.
When Borussia Dortmund entered the negotiations, Dahoud was convinced staying in the Bundesliga was the best option and the deal was announced in March that he would join the German giants this summer and sign a deal that would keep him at Westfalenstadion until 2022.
The transfer fee was reported to be £10.3m and the club were delighted to secure his signature.
“Mo Dahoud is a highly talented and exciting player for the central midfield, who we have been watching intensively for several years. He has already demonstrated that he can play at the top level.” – Dortmund sports director Michael Zorc
4 & 5) Niklas Sule and Sebastian Rudy: Hoffenheim to Bayern Munich
Hoffenheim have been the surprise package in the Bundesliga this season. Champions League spots are normally taken up by the big two (Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund) with the likes of Bayer Leverkusen, Wolfsburg and Schalke fighting it out for the other two spots.
But this year, Hoffenheim have lost only thrice – a record bettered only by the dominant Bayern side. Managed by 29-year-old Julian Nagelsmann, they have shocked the football world to climb up the table with a number of different formations employed.
21-year-old Niklas Sule is a key player in this squad as the centre-back can play either in a back-three or a back-four. Strong in the tackle and when blocking shots, Sule was also a threat in the attacking half with two goals and two assists. While he did show some regret having grown up at Hoffenheim, he was also looking forward to playing with Bayern.
His older and more experienced teammate Sebastian Rudy will also make the trip south to Munich – but on a free transfer. A midfielder by trade, the 27-year-old has also played as a right-back with two goals and six assists to his name.
“Sebastian Rudy joins us on a free transfer. In the case of Niklas Sule, we have reached a fair and serious agreement with TSG Hoffenheim.” – Bayern CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge
6) Simone Zaza: Juventus to Valencia
Poor Simone Zaza shot to the limelight on the global stage when his hilarious run-up for the penalty in the Euro 2016 quarter-final against Germany was beamed around the world and ridiculed on the internet. The Italian striker was still making a name for himself as a squad player and he did not do himself any favours with that penalty miss.
Juventus had no need for him this season with Max Allegri preferring to go with the likes of Gonzalo Higuain, Paulo Dybala and Mario Mandzukic in the lineup. And so he was allowed to leave on loan to West Ham.
But he barely made an impact in England under Slaven Bilic and he was not picked again as a clause in his contract required West Ham to sign him for €20m if he played 15 games. Bilic was having none of it and Zaza returned, only to be loaned to La Liga side Valencia.
Los Che turned out to be a better destination for the 25-year-old striker and he settled in with the struggling side. He has scored five goals so far – the highlight being the 4th-minute opener against Real Madrid in a 2-1 win.
The club decided to make him a permanent player and paid €16m to the Italian champions (with a further €2m in potential bonuses). Zaza also agreed to a deal that would keep him at the Mestalla Stadium until the summer of 2021.
“Simone Zaza will become the property of Valencia commencing on July 1, with a contract until June 2021. This is according to the terms in the agreement signed with Juventus.” – Official statement
