ENGLISH Football League clubs have voted to close the summer transfer window following the opening game of the season.

The EFL announced on Thursday that the window for permanent deals will close at 5pm on Thursday August 9.

The Premier League also opted to move its deadline in September last year.

EFL clubs will still be able to sign players on loan until the end of August.

EFL chief executive Shaun Harvey said in a statement: “After discussing the options throughout the course of the last few months, I’m pleased that the matter has been determined by clubs ahead of the start of next season.

“This new approach will give clubs and managers the stability they crave earlier in the season whilst also providing the flexibility to add to their squads after the traditional deadline until the end of month if required.”

Alongside voting in the changes to the transfer window, clubs also adopted new policy guidance in regard to what constitutes a ‘full strength’ team after attention was drawn to the issue in the final weeks of last season.

Clubs have now agreed that for any league match played on or after the fourth Thursday in March, any team sheet for a league game should include at least 10 outfield players who featured on the team sheet for the league match before.’

The EFL have also confirmed that goal line technology, which was introduced into the Sky Bet Championship in 2017/18, will be in operation at this year’s Sky Bet League One and Sky Bet League Two semi-final play-offs.

  • Former Swindon Town goalkeeper coach Steve Hale, has agreed to join Walsall until the end of the season. Hale left the County Ground in 2016 for Forest Green Rovers.