What you need to know about transfer deadline day

When does the transfer window close?

The transfer window closes in Italy at 23:00 CET (22:00 GMT / 17:00 ET).

All incoming transfer business must be completed before this point, unless the deal is on the verge of being finalised and special dispensation is received from the relevant authorities to allow a small extension to complete paperwork.

The window shuts at the same time in most of mainland Europe, however in the United Kingdom the window is open for another hour, closing at 23:00 GMT, while in Portugal they have an extra two days to do their business.

This has an impact for Italian clubs – while incoming transfers cannot be completed once the deadline has passed, outgoing transfers (e.g. sales to overseas leagues) can still be processed as long as the window remains open in the country the player is heading for.

If Roma sign someone, can he play in the Champions League this season?

Participating clubs can register a maximum of three new players ahead of the knockout rounds of the Champions League, although the squad list cannot exceed 25 in total.

Whether clubs can register a new signing depends on whether they have that space (other players can be removed to make way) and where else the player in question has been plying his trade so far this season.

If the player has not played in UEFA competition for his club this season (this includes players registered for the competition, but never used), then he will definitely be able to be registered for the Champions League, should the Giallorossi choose to do so.

The situation becomes more complicated if the player has participated in UEFA competition already this season. If the player has played in the Champions League group stage for his old side then he will be cup-tied, whether or not his old side is still in the competition.

If the player has played in the Europa League, however, then he can be registered for the Champions League knockout rounds with a new side.

Clubs can exercise this option only once, however – so if two players are signed in the same situation, then a decision will have to be made about which of them is registered.

Do Roma have space in their squad?

Roma registered 23 players for the group stage of the competition – at the time omitting full-back Emerson Palmieri, who was not expected to recover from injury in time to participate.

UEFA demand squads include eight homegrown players (four developed at the club, four developed in the same country) or, if that is not possible, that clubs leave a corresponding number of spaces in their squad – which is what Roma did (registering six homegrown players, leaving two spaces).

Therefore, the Giallorossi can register upto an additional two homegrown players for the knockout stages without problem. However, if the club signs a non-homegrown player, a member of the existing 23-man squad will have to be removed in order to make space for that new arrival.