This is when the transfer window will open and close for Hearts, Hibs and Edinburgh City - Betfred Cup start date revealed

The transfer window is now open in Scotland for clubs to do business
The Scottish FA have confirmed the transfer window dates. Picture: SNSThe Scottish FA have confirmed the transfer window dates. Picture: SNS
The Scottish FA have confirmed the transfer window dates. Picture: SNS

The Scottish FA have confirmed that the transfer window has opened today (Tuesday, 14 July), which is good news for Hearts, Hibs and Edinburgh City.

The SFA/SPFL Joint Response Group have been in discussions regarding the opening of the market for Scottish sides with a number of factors considered, namely the staggered dates for the start of the Premiership and the lower leagues.

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A request from the SFA to FIFA has been approved for the window to open and run for 12 weeks, closing midnight on Monday, 5 October, likely running in alignment with other leagues around Europe.

It means top-flight clubs will be able to tweak their squad well into the start of the 2020/21 campaign with 10 rounds of fixtures set to take place between the opening weekend of the league season and close of the transfer window.

For clubs below the Premiership they will have their squads in place prior to the season starting, the same with the Betfred Cup campaign which is due to start on 6 October.

As for Scottish women's football, the first registration period will run from Wednesday, 15 July until Tuesday, 6 October.

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A statement read: “The Joint Response Group has been examining the optimum summer transfer window for Scottish football clubs, with consideration to the impact of COVID-19 on domestic and international movement of players.

“A request submitted by the Scottish FA to open the transfer window from today (Tuesday, 14 July) until midnight on Monday, 5 October has now been approved by FIFA.

“In arriving at the recommendation the JRG’s Regulation Sub-Group took into account the following circumstances:

- FIFA has confirmed that the summer transfer window cannot exceed 12 weeks. The staggered start dates to SPFL competitions and the need to try to strike an appropriate balance to allow all clubs to prepare for the new season.

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- MD1 of the Betfred Cup is scheduled for Tuesday, 6 October.

- The recommendation from the European Leagues and UEFA that European associations close their transfer windows on 5 October.

- That the SPFL Board has approved, subject to approving the Regulations, amended loan principles for the coming season which extend the existing October Loan Window for League One and Two Clubs to also cover Championship clubs.

- Alignment, so far as possible, with other leagues and associations.”