What do the official dates of the transfer window mean?

[General]

We've signed three players and the window doesn't open until July 1st. So what's the point of it?

Big Sam has signed three players and has stated that they're in talks with loads more - so if he is, presumably they're not just looking to sign 5 more freebies.

If they're in talks with contracted players then what's the point in a start and end date to the transfer window - presumably it should just start when the season ends and end when the last European season starts or something like that?

Fabregas was signed outside of the transfer window by Chelsea but for a fee and was contracted to Barcelona.

I know there is some element of when contracts end, and also the element of when a player officially goes to the new club etc.. but what else is it for if deals can be agreed upon outside of it?

[God The Mechanic]

You can't register players outside of the transfer window, so they're unable to play official matches until the window opens and the relevant FAs register the paperwork.

[General]

So that arm of the FA is just on holiday?

[Jamie88]

I believe any deals can be sorted out at this stage but their contracts probably don't start until 1 July, that's my take on it

[MJG]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transfer_window

Pre season window opened on 9th June

Although, in England, the transfer window formally opens on 1 July, transfers between clubs in the same association can take place as soon as the last competitive fixtures for the season have been played. However, many transfers will not be completed until 1 July because many players' contracts expire on 30 June. Outside of the transfer window, a club may still sign players on an emergency basis, usually if they have no goalkeeper available. Special dispensation from their competition's governing body, for example the Premier League, is required. The transfer window restriction does not apply to clubs below Football Conference National level.[27]

[westcliff white]

What MJG has stated above is correct, players move on 1st July as that is when contracts expire (that's for free agents). For under contract players they also cannot move until that date, the reaso being is that the window does not open until that date. The summer window is set tis way to reflect the fact that 99% of all footballers contracts expire 30/06.

Players however can be signed but not registered before or after the transfer windows, they are also not allowed to participate in any form of unofficial match for the receiving club unless the current club agree, this means anyone we have signed is unable to partake in training or training games etc until they officially become an FFC player. There are exceptions to this take Jimmy Bullard we signed him for his release clause just before the end of the season, his clause was quite specific in that it didn't allow him to play for or train with Wigan again after the clause was met, Wigan then gave permission to us to allow him to train with us after everything was signed and sealed, this was then sent to the FA so they knew but he could not play in any form of match until 01/07.

All overly complicated but in a nutshell it is safe to say that anyone we sign is still not a fulham player until 01/07.

[King_Crud]

And I think you can agree with players in a foreign league who's contracts expire that summer 6 months ahead