31 Jan 2018 06:16:13
Hi Ed's,

No doubt you're in for a busy 24 hours so although my question is transfer related it won't be about targets per se.!

I'm interested to know how quickly a transfer can actually be completed given the legal, contractual and logistics considerations that all have to be organised? There is normally a surprise or 2 on deadline day, but how many of these are simply covert deals that have been worked on for a week or more but just haven't hit the media until very late? In my line of work (although it may not be a fair example), it would be impossible to get a deal done in 24 hours; and these would be far less complex and lower in value than a professional football transfer.

Apologies if the question is naive, but how can deals of such size and complexity be completed in just a few hours?

Thanks in advance!

{Ed002's Note - Sides can agree an outline contract that contains the key information about length, wages, bonuses and then sign that in order to provide the paperwork to the FA by 2300 hours. There is a period of grace if it is running slightly late and the FA are asked if that is OK (which Leicester failed to do last summer with Silva). Many transfers are very straight forward and don't need much haggling between either clubs or players where it is a straight xx fee paid in three eaqual installment over one year and the player will be paid xx with xx after 50 appearances and xx after 100 appearnace. The prima donnas need more.}

1.) 31 Jan 2018
31 Jan 2018 10:44:35
How much more do the prima donnas need ED to get over the line? XXXX? :)

PS. No need to answer :)

2.) 31 Jan 2018
31 Jan 2018 10:49:55
Thanks Ed, so in theory any club could initiate a move with literally hours of the window remaining and still get the transfer approved? Is there a generally accepted cut off point where it wouldn’t be worthwhile trying based on the time it would take to get it across the line though?

{Ed002's Note - No, there is no cut off point. If you take the P-EA/OG/MB transfer as an example the registration in Germany needs to be with the DFB by 1700.}

3.) 31 Jan 2018
31 Jan 2018 11:09:34
Brilliant, thanks Ed.

4.) 31 Jan 2018
31 Jan 2018 13:28:59
With any luck we can sort out a deal for Messi today then.

5.) 31 Jan 2018
31 Jan 2018 14:45:31
P-EA/ OG/ MB - that's Aubameyang, Giroud and who's MB, if you don't mind my asking, ed002?

{Ed001's Note - Michy Batshuayi.}

6.) 31 Jan 2018
31 Jan 2018 14:46:14
Oh wait, nevermind, MB is Batshuayi, isn't it.

{Ed001's Note - yes.}