In brief
Looking for the latest Serie A transfer news? We deliberately don't show fixed rumours or transfers here, since they're out of date again within a few days. For the current news, head to our live page below. Here, we explain exactly how the Italian transfer market, the mercato, works.
What is the mercato?
The mercato is the Italian term for the transfer market: the period during which clubs can buy, sell or loan out players. In Italy, the mercato is followed with particular intensity; the summer and winter windows are tracked closely, with new rumours about Serie A's top clubs surfacing daily.
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When is the transfer window open?
The mercato has two fixed windows per season. The summer mercato is the longest and most important; in the 2026/27 season, it opened for Serie A on 29 June 2026 (slightly earlier than the usual 1 July, for Serie A only) and closes on Tuesday 1 September 2026 at 20:00. The winter mercato is shorter and falls during the league's winter break: it opens on 2 January 2027 and closes on 1 February 2027 at 20:00. These dates apply to the 2026/27 season; check the official Lega Serie A channels for the exact dates of a future season.
Outside these two windows, clubs generally cannot register new players for official matches. A player without a contract can, in practice, often still negotiate and sign with a club outside the window, but the actual registration with the league remains bound by the applicable rules and deadlines of Lega Serie A.
Transfer, loan, or free transfer: what's the difference?
In a permanent transfer, a player moves permanently to another club, usually for a transfer fee. In a loan deal (prestito), the player is temporarily attached to another club for an agreed period, sometimes with an option or obligation to buy at the end of the loan. A free transfer, finally, happens when a player's contract has expired: they can then move to a new club without a transfer fee.
Why does the mercato matter for the league?
The outcome of the mercato can noticeably shift the balance of power within Serie A. A club that loses several key players may struggle with that the following season; a club that strengthens well can take a step forward in the race for the Scudetto, a European spot, or simply survival in the league. You can read concrete transfer news on our Serie A page, where you'll also find the current betting markets.