During the summer transfer window, many football players switch clubs, providing the perfect opportunity for player transfer betting. But how do you go about it, and which are the best football betting sites? Well, we have everything you need to know about how, where, and on whom to bet.

Transfer windows give clubs the chance to improve their squads, be it by adding some new players or offloading deadwood from the wage bill. The best time to make these deals is the during the summer.

As for the players themselves, there are many reasons why they would want to look for a new club. Some of these factors include wanting to play at a higher level, searching for trophies, or disagreements with teammates and coaching staff.

While the above may explain the when and the why, it doesn't explain the how. To get the most out of player transfer betting, read on below!

Step 1: Pick a Transfer Rumour

Naturally, the first step is to choose who you want to bet on. If you're a football fanatic like me, your social feeds will be full of rumours and supposed bids regarding the biggest ongoing player transfers.

Research is key to giving you the best chance of getting predictions right. Why does a player want to leave? Has the player made demands before? Has he ever mentioned a desire to play somewhere else? Getting the answers to these questions can help you place more accurate wagers. Just keep in mind our two top tips:

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    Stick to a market you know (ex. Premier League)

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    Look for legitimate sources (Ex. Fabrizio Romano and David Ornstein)

Step 2: Choose the Right Bookie

We've gone ahead and done the work for you here with our list of top recommended bookies above. All have been specially selected with player transfer betting in mind, offering great value for punters.

Transfer odds are super sensitive to fluctuation, so we shortlisted betting sites known to provide competitive odds and who are quick to update any changes in price.

Here are a few tips to make sure you choose the right bookmaker suited to your needs and preferences:

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    Pick one of our excellent bookmakers listed above.

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    Make sure you're happy with the markets offered on player transfers.

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    Compare the odds with those offered by other bookies.

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    During the above step, look out for any specific summer transfer specials and promotions.

Step 3: To Wait or Not to Wait

This is the trickiest step of the lot, but waiting for the right moment to place a bet could give you better odds or save you from making a bad bet. The question is, how can you accurately spot the right instance to place a wager?

Well, in short, you can’t. It’s impossible to be sure of a transfer. Even if you place your bets early, deals could always fall through. On the flip side, waiting for a deal to be all but confirmed could prolong things until it's too late. Here are a two main tips to consider that may help you reach a decision more easily.

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    If the player wants to play at a particular club, he may push a move harder.

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    If a player is reluctant to leave, he may find it harder to choose another club if he has to, making things harder to predict.

Ok, so you know the how – let's go back to the why again! There are a few key reasons why you should bet on the summer transfer window and transfers in general, which we've highlighted below.

  • Lack of football in summer: Unless there’s a World Cup or European Championship, the summer months provide little footballing excitement. Transfers offer just that! And with more lucrative deals being struck every year, the window keeps getting more exciting.

  • Rumours are fun: Everybody loves a bit of gossip, and transfer rumours give you something to discuss and debate in the off-season.

  • It can help with bets during the season: Starting your research from the summer window could provide some valuable information, which you could use to find value in your bets once the season kicks off.

You can still keep up to date with transfer rumours before the window opens, but the real fun kicks off when clubs can actually sell and buy players. Our table below shows the dates for the Summer transfer window schedules, which vary depending on the country.

Country Summer Transfer Window Dates
Albania14 June – 31 August
Australia21 June – 12 September
Brazil3 July – 2 August
Bulgaria16 June – 7 September
Canada5 July – 2 August
Denmark15 June – 1 September
England14 June – 1 September
Finland13 July – 12 August
France1 July – 1 September
Germany1 July – 1 September
Italy1 July – 31 August
Japan17 July – 16 August
Kenya26 June – 21 August
Netherlands12 June – 31 August
Norway1 August – 31 August
Romania13 June – 4 September
Russia26 June – 14 September
Scotland14 June – 31 August
Spain1 July – 1 September
Sweden7 July – 31 August
Turkey26 June – 15 September
USA5 July – 2 August

From the Premier League to La Liga to Serie A and the Bundesliga, bookmakers are always quick to react to the latest transfer rumours. Once you sort the silliness from the factual, you’ll have a whole new world of betting opportunities to pounce on. Perhaps this is why betting on player transfers in football has become increasingly popular over recent years.

Player transfer betting allows you to wager on a certain player, or manager for that matter, to move to a certain club, or simply leave their current one. Other markets in this enjoyable field include to stay at the current club, which club a player will be at after the summer window closes, as well as which player will be at once the January window slams shut too.

Next Permanent Club

This is essentially betting on a player who, unless you know something no one else does, will already be in the news regarding a transfer to his next permanent club. This market lets you bet on the next team he will play for, but does not require you to nominate a particular transfer window when his move will occur.

Be sure to follow real journalists with strong club connections in order to get reliable updates. With the likes of Fabrizio Romano and Gianluca Di Marzio, keeping up with transfer rumours has become a lot easier. Taking advantage of the extremely accurate reporting of these journalists is a sure fire way to get more value out of your bets.

Remember, you can always bet on players NOT to move too, instead opting to stay put at their current club.

Next Club Signing

Another way to look at transfer betting is to look at it from the signing team’s point of view. This is to say, bet on the next player to join a club, any club. So, if you have a hunch that player X will be the next big money signing through the doors at, say, Manchester United, then this is the bet for you.

This can be a lot trickier, especially when betting on a big club. Top clubs will be dealing with several players at the same time, with deals being pushed forward or falling through at any moment. Research is key when using this type of bet, as keeping an eye out on the progress of a deal could be the difference between a win and a loss. Smaller clubs that don’t have many targets may be easier, but they will offer you lower odds.

To Break Transfer Record

A bet on this market would require you to successfully predict which club, either across the world or domestically, will smash through the existing transfer record within a designated time period.

For example, if you have read reports that Real Madrid has been persistent in their desired recruitment of a certain player, and that such a transfer would blow all others that have gone before it out of the water, then this is the market for that bet.

With the monumental price tag placed on Neymar Jr in 2017, this one seem a little more out of reach. However, with ever more lucrative buy out clauses and an abundance of wunderkinds, this could still happen.

Football Player Transfer Odds

It's safe to say that many football fans are still recovering from the exciting aftermath of the remarkable 2022/23 football season. This period saw unforgettable moments like Argentina's World Cup victory, Napoli clinching their third league title, City's triumphant treble-winning performance, as well as the heartbreak of Marco Reus and Dortmund.

All of this has left us eagerly anticipating a summer full of blockbuster transfers. As we look forward to the upcoming 2023/2024 campaign, here are some of the major transfer rumors currently making headlines, and the odds assigned to each player:

Harry Kane

The only thing keeping Tottenham relevant, Harry Kane is England’s all-time top scorer and the Premier League’s top scorer for a single club. Every year Kane is linked with a big club, and so far, his loyalty has reigned supreme, but with his time at the top level ticking, he may want to venture out.

Bayern Munich is currently the favourite to acquire Kane, with a £70 million bid apparently already on the table. It remains to be seen if he aims to win trophies or overtakes Shearer to become the Premier League top scorer.

OutcomeOddsBookmaker
Any German Club1/2BetVictor
Bayern Munich11/10William Hill
Stay at Tottenham11/10bet365
Real Madrid10/1bet365
Manchester United12/1Coral

Declan Rice

Possibly the most interesting transfer saga so far this summer, Rice has finally confirmed his departure from West Ham. With a remarkable record of over 200 appearances across all competitions and having led his team to their first European title in more than two decades, he has undeniably earned the status of a club legend.

Although Arsenal and Manchester City are both reportedly interested in signing the homegrown talent, Rice has already rejected two offers by the Gunners, with City reportedly preparing a £100 million bid. The bookies still have Arsenal as the favourites at 8/15, though, while City are priced at 7/4.

TransferOddsBookmaker
Arsenal10/11bet365
Manchester City7/4Unibet
Stay at West Ham22/110bet
Manchester United33/1Spreadex

Kylian Mbappé

To the surprise of absolutely no one, Kylian Mbappé is back in the headlines as the Parisian is still looking for a move out of, well, Paris. Although PSG awarded him one of the most lucrative deals ever last season, the lack of ambition at the club has proved to be too much for Kylian to handle.

That being said, such is the quality of his current contract that odds on Mbappe staying at PSG are currently at 1/1. If he had to leave, Real Madrid is by far the most likely destination at odds of 16/1. Odds on a transfer to Manchester United are next at 16/1, but we think is extremely unlikely.

TransferOddsBookmaker
Stay at PSG1/1bet365
Real Madrid10/11Spreadex
Manchester United16/1bet365

Josko Gvardiol

The Croatian has been a real standout this season, especially at the World Cup where he led the defensive line, taking Croatia all the way to the semi-finals and eventually finishing third. Having played for RB Leipzig since 2021, a move to a top European club looks likely.

So far, the biggest contender for Gvardiol’s signature is Manchester City, although there is some chance that he’ll stay in Leipzig; meanwhile, Real Madrid has also reportedly shown interest.

OutcomeOddsBookmaker
Manchester City1/4Coral
Stay at Leipzig5/1bet365
Real Madrid20/1bet365
Bayern Munich28/1bet365

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia

The Georgian who’s putting his country on the map, Kvaratshelia, more affectionately known as Kvaradona, led Napoli to their third Serie A title, winning the club’s and league’s player of the season. The man is in high demand, although he seems content at Napoli for now.

Having said that, all of Europe’s elite are fighting to sign Kvara, as the 22-year-old has shown heaps of potential this season. My guess is that he’ll stay on as the star man in a brilliant Napoli side.

OutcomeOddsBookmaker
Real Madrid5/1Unibet
Manchester City6/1Bet UK
Chelsea15/2Unibet
Arsenal8/1Unibet

Romelu Lukaku

What a rollercoaster of a career it’s been for Lukaku. After a Todd Boehly disaster class saw him come back to Chelsea for £115 million, Lukaku made it clear he preferred Inter, being loaned out last season. A decent campaign with the Nerazzurri ended with him missing a sitter in the Champions League final – not ideal.

It’s being reported that Lukaku is looking for a reunion with Inter, although some Saudi Pro League clubs are also reportedly interested. Whatever happens, Chelsea will surely suffer a loss.

OutcomeOddsBookmaker
Inter Milan2/5Unibet
Any Saudi Club4/1Unibet
Stay at Chelsea6/1Bet UK
AC Milan8/1bet365

The summer of 2022 saw plenty of brilliant signings and a handful of dodgy dealings as well. The likes of Erling Haaland, Richarlison and Sterling all made big money moves, and some have proven to be better than others. Here are the top transfers:

PosPlayerFromToFee
1AntonyAjaxManchester United£82 million
2Wesley FofanaLeicesterChelsea£70 million
3Aurélien TchouameniMonacoReal Madrid£69.4 million
4Darwin NúñezBenficaLiverpool£64 million
5CasemiroReal MadridManchester United£61 million
  • Antony was last summer’s biggest Premier League Transfer signing. He’s flattered to deceive this season, but the 22-year-old still has bags of potential. While it hasn’t worked out amazingly so far, he looks to be one for the future.

  • Chelsea’s transfer downfall can be highlighted by this transfer. Fofana is a great player, but the fee involved was rather high for his standard, and his lack of game time has emphasised this. The young talent should improve at Chelsea, but it remains to be seen.

  • Aurélien Tchouameni is an excellent young French footballer, playing the majority of Real Madrid’s La Liga matches. The biggest La Liga Transfer this season, Tchouameni will surely improve his game, becoming a top Madridista. Coincidentally, he’s also been the biggest outgoing Ligue 1 Transfer.

  • Darwin Núñez had a rocky start to his Premier League life, but over time, the Uruguayan has started showing his talent a lot more. One of his biggest issues is that he can’t speak a word of English.

  • Casemiro is an absolutely inspired signing by Manchester United. By far the oldest player on this list, he has brought some much-needed stability to the club. He’s also had more goal contributions than Antony!

PosPlayerFromToFee
1Enzo FernándezBenficaChelsea£106.8 million
2Mykhaylo MudrykShakhtar DonetskChelsea£62 million
3Anthony GordonEvertonNewcastle£45 million
4Cody GakpoPSV EindhovenLiverpool£37 million
5Benoît BadiashileMonacoChelsea£35 million
  • The biggest signing this calendar year, Enzo Fernández joined Chelsea for an astronomical fee, and he’s still finding his feet in the league. The World Cup winner has tonnes of potential and will likely be a star man for the Blues, eventually.

  • The same thing can be said about Mykhaylo Mudryk, although he did come from a worse league. Brilliant on his day, Mudryk is another example of Chelsea’s overspending, but I believe that he could come good.

  • Anthony Gordon has been woeful at Newcastle this season. The Magpies have gotten very little wrong this season, but Gordon has really struggled, only scoring one goal this season.

  • Cody Gakpo could turn out to be a great signing for Liverpool. He’s completely forgotten his shaky start to the campaign and is a driving force in the Reds’ attack. He even scored in his first Merseyside Derby and scored a brace against rivals Manchester United.

  • Chelsea’s third inclusion, Benoît Badiashile, is a decent young defender who could be good value for money if he reaches his full potential. Chelsea has had one of their worst seasons in decades, and defensive stability is key to turning their fortunes around.

Transfer Betting in European Leagues

While most transfers are associated with the Premier League, don't overlook other top divisions which see plenty of fantastic signings too, providing plenty of potential value for punters.

For more on this, check out our specific transfer pages for each European league.

PlayerMoveFeeYear
Neymar JrBarcelona To Paris Saint Germain £198 million2017
Kylian MbappéMonaco To Paris Saint Germain £163 million2018
João FélixBenfica To Atlético de Madrid£112.9 million2019
Antoine GriezmannAtlético de Madrid To Barcelona£107 million2019
Enzo FernándezBenfica to Chelsea£106.8 million2023
Philippe CoutinhoLiverpool To Barcelona£105 million2018
Jack GrealishAston Villa to Manchester City£100 million2021
Romelu LukakuInter Milan to Chelsea£97.5 million2021
Ousmane DembéleBVB To Barcelona£97 million2017
Paul Pogba Juventus To Man Utd£89 million2016

The transfer window opens twice a year – in summer and winter – providing an excellent opportunity for teams to bolster their squads. It’s also great for punters, with player transfer betting especially brilliant during the summer window when not much football goes on. To get started, simply pick one of the bookmakers we've recommended above!

Betting on football transfers is fantastic – it gives you the chance to bet on the sport during the off-season, you can find some great value, and the research you’ve done will definitely help you in future bets.

That depends on the bet you’ve placed. If you simply bet on the player to move, then don’t worry, your bet is fine. If, however, you bet on a player to go to a specific club, you’ll lose your stake.

Yes – with most top bookmakers, you always have the option of betting on a player not to move.

There sure is, and you can read more about it in our manager betting guide.

In some cases, yes. Obviously, these will not break any transfer records, but they still see a player move to his next permanent club. It’s a good idea to bookmark a few football websites that specialise in analysis and stats so you can keep up-to-date with the latest transfer news.

Yes – the 2023 summer transfer window has seen most players being linked with ‘Any Saudi Pro League Club’ and this is quite common for many leagues.

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WRITTEN BY Jeremy Sant Fournier View all posts by Jeremy Sant Fournier

If there’s one thing Jeremy loves, it’s sports. A football fanatic at heart, Jeremy can always been found watching, playing or talking about sports. It’s in his blood, and with a keen interest in sports betting, sports writing is a match made in heaven.

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