The blunt truth about January is that there’s a lot happening behind the scenes that never makes the headlines. Our recruitment team will have spoken to hundreds of players and will be actively communicating with dozens. That level of reach is necessary, but it doesn’t mean deals are imminent. You can see why patience is essential.

Deals are interconnected — here's why

We’re entering the point in the window where everything starts to link together. A single sale can unlock two or three arrivals. Equally, a target we like might only be available if the selling club finds a replacement. For us, that means future business is often dependent on bringing cash in through sales, and some of those sales are tied to other clubs’ own transfer agendas.

Real examples, real consequences

Look at what happened with Victory. He chose to move elsewhere after his prospective club decided an experienced option like Godfrey fit their immediate needs. The young lad understandably didn’t want to roll the dice waiting for a later window reshuffle. That’s a common theme — players will take certainty if it’s on the table.

Why the wait before Spain?

Ideally we’d have 80–90% of the squad sorted before the training trip. That’s the aim. In reality there are nine in-flight deals the club is pushing hard to complete, and there’s only so much anyone can do early on. Clubs are juggling budgets, financial rules and regulations, and each other; it’s a shuffling of dominoes where timing matters more than headlines.

So, to be fair, it’s messy and it’s frustrating — but it’s also how modern windows work. Keep an eye on the final fortnight. That’s usually when the pieces start to fall into place.

Written by EHL2020: 30 July 2026

Tags: transfers