Changes to the Football League Loan System
Starting from this season, the loan system between clubs in the English Premier and within the English Football League (EFL) has changed.
All loan deals need to be conducted during the two transfer windows, Summer (July/August) and Winter (January). All loans will be of half-season duration or for a full season. Once loaned out a player and the transfer window is closed they will not be allowed to be loaned to a second club, or return to the player’s parent club’s team.
At the EFL AGM in June, a number of changes were made to help with the transition:-
- A player registered on a standard loan may continue to play non-first team football for his parent club during the term of his loan period.
- Clubs will be permitted to sign a goalkeeper on a seven day ‘emergency loan’ basis if they do not have a senior goalkeeper that has made 5 starting appearances in first team football.
- Clubs will be able to recall a goalkeeper at 24 hours’ notice from a loan period at another club if they are unable to field two fit goalkeepers in their 18 man match day squad.