In an split decision vote, Premier League clubs have agreed that the summer transfer window will now end at 5pm on the Thursday before the start of the season.
However, clubs will still be able to sell players to other leagues until their transfer windows close.
The move comes after a majority of the 20 top flight clubs planned to attend September’s shareholders’ meeting to push for a new transfer deadline to be introduced. The Football League are also planning on discussing a similar proposal.
Arsene Wenger supported the change, insisting that the potential for players to be distracted from playing by interest from other clubs does not benefit anyone.
He said, “Many things happen in the last second, which I regret. That’s why I believe it’s important that we change that and close all that stuff before the championship starts. Even in the games, you sit there before the games and even in players’ minds they have no clarity.
“Are they in? Are they out? Are they half in? Are they half out? Are they tapped up in the afternoon of the game by people who want to get them out? It’s not the way to work and it’s uncomfortable. Every single manager in the league would agree that it’s time to kick that out before the season starts and not continue to have players in the dressing room who are half out and half in.”