How to bet on football transfers

Although there are no major leagues in operation during the summer, there are still plenty of opportunities to place value wagers and this is courtesy of transfer betting odds. The summer break also means the opening of one of two transfer windows, it means you can bet on player movement between early June and late August. The January transfer window can be equally interesting, as the first month of each year offers you another opportunity to place wagers. With the likes of Robert Lewandowski and Cristiano Ronaldo likely to be on the move this summer, it gives fans the chance to predict where their next clubs will be. We are going to highlight how to bet on football transfers, what you should be focussing on and also what pitfalls you should avoid.

Which are the best transfer betting sites

Before placing a wager, you should examine specific criteria for this special type of market. The prices are critical, but so is the ability to request odds for a player that does not appear in the sportsbook. We will provide you with the top transfer betting sites without further ado.

What are the latest transfer betting odds?

When the transfer windows open, it usually leads to a frenzy of activity and with players set to move clubs, it also means the bookmakers are ready to unveil their latest transfer betting odds. The likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Robert Lewandowski will generate plenty of column inches between now and when the transfer window is shut. Then again, these are not the only bets that may be taking place. Here are some of the most popular betting markets that are currently available.

What is football transfer betting?

When it comes to placing transfer bets, your opportunities are limited for one reason and that is the introduction of transfer windows. With only two periods now available for clubs to both buy and sell players, it also means the same for those who like to bet on this activity. The summer transfer windows operate between July 1st to the end of August each year (although the date can differ slightly from league to league), and the winter equivalent is open during January.

While betting on transfers has become so popular in recent years, there are no major leagues in operation during this time. Therefore, this activity has become the perfect alternative. Then again, remember that although players will be in the spotlight during these transfer windows, they cannot bet on their own transfers or hand out information relating to any potential deals.

Which are the most popular transfer betting markets

There are three main ways you can gamble on transfer betting markets and now we will explain what these options are:

Next Club: Here, the bet is to predict where a certain player will be playing once the transfer window closes. For example, with Robert Lewandowski looking set to leave Bayern Munich, it is up to you to decide who the Polish forward will join before September. However, it is not just permanent moves covered in the transfer betting markets. With loans being permitted by some bookmakers, this is also something to consider.

To stay in the same Club: The opposite transfer bet is when you predict which players will not be changing clubs this summer. Although Cristiano Ronaldo has reportedly demanded a switch from Manchester United, a change of club looks unlikely. This means backing the Portuguese superstar not to move is perhaps a smarter bet than the forward-moving onto fellow Premier League outfit Chelsea.

To break the Transfer Record: This bet is perhaps a rarer one to land, if only because the bar is set so high and with Neymar’s world record fee of £198m still in existence, backing any player to break the current transfer record is a bet that is unlikely to win anytime soon.

How to bet on transfers

For those wondering how to bet on football transfers, there are a number of aspects to consider and to make sure you have the best opportunity at beating the bookmakers. We are now going to run through each of them.

Avoid the rumours

Transfer betting odds are usually dictated by rumours. Although some can be helpful towards your betting strategy, other pieces of gossip can just as easily lead you down an incorrect path. To avoid being given useless information, you should only consider news from reputable sources. Stay clear of the fake news and your chances of winning will certainly increase.

Know the Deadlines

With transfer bets not being available all year round, it makes sense to keep on top of the deadline days. There is a slight difference between the Premier League to the Bundesliga, but we are usually talking hours rather than days. This means if you can stay abreast of when the windows are locked, you can also be ready to place any final day wagers and who knows, a last-minute winner may even come your way.

Reasons to leave

Another thing to consider for football transfer betting is how the player fits into any potential move. For example, a new club may offer a better fit in terms of tactics and, therefore, unlock their true talents. Or it could simply come down to money and if a player is promised a better wage elsewhere, it can make the exit door at his current club appear much closer. Add the promise of more fame to go with it and the bright lights of the biggest outfits will always seem appealing.

Which are the biggest transfers in history

It is perhaps no surprise that the best players in the world often go for the biggest transfer fees. World-class talents can be in such demand usually for one of two reasons. Firstly, it could be that a player is at the absolute peak of their performance and is looking for a new, higher challenge. While it could also be a precocious talent is being monitored by the biggest names in Europe.

Although they are already showing signs of raw talent, their ceiling in terms of performance is even higher. Whichever of the two it is, it usually means that gossip is not far away and when that is the case, football transfer betting is never usually far behind. Here are the top 10 player transfers of all time:

Full list of bookmakers offering transfer betting

For those who are wondering whether betting on transfers is worth it, the answer, like with many other bets, is to do your research first. Because if you can make sense of all the rumours and gossip, there is no reason why you cannot have a profitable transfer window.

Especially as the odds are arguably more generous than when betting on actual match outcomes, transfer bets can also be an ideal way to build a bankroll before the new season begins. For those keen to test their transfer acumen this summer, here is a list of all the leading bookmakers: