EFL: Clubs remove three-window penalty for late payments

English Football League clubs have voted to reduce the length of ‘fee restriction’ transfer windows for clubs failing to meet financial obligations.

Those who do not keep up with payments for more than 30 days have previously been banned for three transfer windows from any incoming transfers or loans which involve a fee.

Sheffield Wednesday were one of the clubs hit by a three-window restriction when they twice failed to pay player wages on time, in March and May 2025, for a total exceeding the 30-day ruling.

Under the new regulations, clubs could still be subject to a fee restriction but only for one transfer window, with the EFL keen to assess any future breaches of their rules on a case-by-case basis.

“Moving forwards, this will be replaced by a more structured business plan approach, based on individual circumstances, which aims to make it clearer what information clubs need to report to the League and when,” the EFL said in a statement.

“Under the revised regulation, clubs may still be subject to a fee restriction, but only for one window. Clubs will also maintain the right to appeal, while the League also maintains the right to charge clubs in serious cases of persistent defaulting.”

The new ruling was voted on during the EFL’s Annual General Meeting on Thursday.

Rick Parry has been re-elected as the league’s chairman for a further three-year period, which will extend his time in the role to a decade.