Right, before I jump into how transfer betting works and which bookies offer it, let’s start out with a few basics. If you’re looking for a complete and utter beginner’s guide on
how to bet on football, this
isn’t
going to be that – but here are the key things you need to know about betting on football
transfers, specifically.
The term “transfer” simply refers to a player moving from one club to another, usually by way of a ludicrously hefty sum. Ever since 2003, there have been two transfer windows throughout each football year. Here’s a bit of a Q&A about them before I go into the betting process:
| Popular FAQ | The Answer |
| How many transfer windows are in a year? | Two – usually a 12-week window between seasons and then a one-month window midway through a season. |
| When can I place bets? | Usually between Jan and Feb for the winter window, or June and September for the summer window, but this depends on who you’re betting with. As I said, some of the best bookies offer year-round football transfer odds. Result. |
| What kinds of bets can I place? | There are a lot of variations. For example, you can bet on your favourite player to move to a certain team by the time the window closes, that same player to remain on the same team, and more. |
| What kinds of odds can I expect? | Odds are generally dictated by rumours, but of course, some sites are always better than others odds-wise. You’ll find some of my personal favourites here on this page. |
Betting on football transfers is dead-simple, to be fair. That said, as transfer betting odds are largely driven by rumours of who might be moving to which club and when, you
do
need to be a little cautious in terms of where you’re getting your intel – by which I mean, steer clear of dodgy Facebook posts from distant uncles and dubious tips from strangers.
But here’s a viable option for you. I write regularly about
today’s football betting tips
and tomorrow’s best transfer odds – so you can always rely on my pages as a reputable source of information. I’ll also keep you posted regarding deadline days, transfer window dates and the like throughout the year.
Anyways, let’s look at the betting
process, as promised. I’d always recommend following these general tips when placing a bet:
- Check out my betting tips and do your research on transfer rumours
first.
- Decide on a player/bet that appeals to you.
- Compare the market to find the best odds on your predicted transfer.
- Create an account with the bookie that has those odds –
after
checking they’re licensed where you live, of course.
- Place your desired bet, sit back and play the waiting game.
I bet you’re all itching to check out the best transfer odds by now, eh? Well, regardless of what you want to bet on, these are some of the best bookies around right now:
Bwin – my favourite all-rounder
Pros & Cons
- Great Bwin football blog
- Football-specific welcome bonus
- Quality football betting coverage
- Not the largest football bonus
Without doubt my favourite place for online sports betting is Bwin. Why? Well, a whole bunch of reasons, really. First up, they offer standout odds on Premier League, La Liga, and more. Next, they partner with the UEFA Europa League and are widely praised across the industry, meaning you know Bwin can be trusted.
Plus the brand has a great blog packed with football predictions and transfer tips to help you make the most of all of the odds for regular football betting and transfer betting. And finally, all new bettors here can get £20 in backup bets to use on their football bets. Such generous sign-up promos are rare, and certainly shouldn’t be overlooked.
£20 Back-Up Bet as Free Bet
Bwin Highlights
- One of the largest ranges of sports in the current market.
- Bonuses including enhanced accas, best odds and more.
- Helpful features to filter the matches quickly.
Min deposit £10, Max stake £10, Min Odds 1/1 (2.0); Max free bet £10; New players only
Bet365 – the best for transfer tips and news
Pros & Cons
- Great for news and predictions
- Solid market coverage
- Decent odds
- Bonuses aren’t always transfer-friendly
Bet365 is a fab place to bet on football transfers. But this is much more than just a grand-old betting site with a gleaming rep – it’s a great news source for football tips, predictions, and the like, too.
Their “Transfer News” blog page is an epic source to keep an eye on ahead of transfer windows. And of course, you can access competitive odds and a ton of different football markets with this bookie, too. Add to that a no-nonsense web layout, bet builders and easy-to-edit betting slips and you’re flying here.
Bet365 Highlights
- New customer offer: up to £50 in bet credits
- Promotional offers linked to specific sports
- Excellent football betting odds
Open Account Offer Bet £10 & Get £50 in Free Bets for new customers at bet365. Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of bets to value of qualifying deposit. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and T&Cs apply. Registration required.
Betfred – great for odds-boosters during the season
Pros & Cons
- Boosted odds sometimes available
- Bumper bonus offer
- Easy-to-navigate apps
- Transfer odds aren’t always advertised
Can you bet on football transfers with Betfred? You can, but the opportunity doesn’t appear to be on the table year-round, as it is with some other bookies.
On the upside, the odds here are frequently boosted ahead of the season on the brand’s “Novelty and Specials” betting page, and Betfred’s trusted, SSL-encrypted website and downloadable apps are a breeze to use, too. There’s also a £30 free bet bonus you can claim here. This one’s definitely worth a look, my friends.
Bet £10 Get £50 in Free Bets
Betfred Highlights
- £50 bonus offer for new customers
- "Pick Your Punt" feature
- Daily draw prizes of £800 from a £1 stake
New customers only. Register with BETFRED50. Deposit £10+ via Debit Card and place first bet £10+ at Evens (2.0)+ on Sports within 7 days to get 3 x £10 in Sports Free Bets & 2 x £10 in Acca Free Bets within 10 hours of settlement. 7-day expiry. Eligibility & payment exclusions apply. T&Cs apply.
Unibet – best for beginners
Pros & Cons
- Idiotproof navigation
- Dedicated “Transfers” page
- Fast deposits/withdrawals
- Odds aren’t always massively competitive
If you want to bet on football transfers in a manner that’s fast, easy, and minimum hassle, Unibet is definitely worthy of your attention. These guys run a dedicated “Transfers” betting page which updates in real-time with the latest football transfer odds and is beautifully easy-to-use.
Unibet’s platform supports all major debit cards and e-wallets, and processes withdrawals within just a couple of days, making it great from a payments perspective, too.
Bet £10 Get £40 in Bonuses
Unibet Highlights
- Excellent welcome offer
- Live streaming of sports from around the world
- Huge statistics page covering range of sports
18+. BeGambleAware.org. New GB customers only. Min £10 debit card deposit. Place a £10+ bet on sportsbook at min odds 2/5 (1.4) each leg. Receive 2 x £10 free bets within 24 hours of bet settlement, and further 2 x £10 casino bonus the next day.T&C’s apply.
BetVictor – offering awesome odds all-round
Pros & Cons
- Excellent odds
- Lots of betting options
- Dedicated transfer page
At the time of writing, BetVictor has some of the best transfer odds out there – and again, you’ll find a dedicated football transfers betting page here that’s a cinch to use.
The brand accepts highly specific player-to-club bets, and equally, offers much broader football transfer betting options. For example, you can drop a few quid on a popular player to sign with “any German club” or “any Italian club”, rather than selecting, say, Bayern Munich or Juventus, specifically. I’m a big fan of the options on the table here – and an even bigger fan of BetVictor’s incredibly decent odds.
GET £30 IN FREE BETS+ 100 FREE SPINS When you bet £10
Betvictor Highlights
- Top sports betting bonus
- Harry Redknapp’s Bet Boost feature
- Extensive range of esports betting markets
18+ New customers only. Opt in, bet £10 on any football market at minimum 1/1 odds within 10 days of registration. No cash out. Get £40 in Free Bets on selected events. Free Bets expire in 7 days. T&Cs apply. gambleaware.org | Please gamble responsibly.
Betting on football transfers is class. Fans love it for a reason, it’s possible all-year-round if you find the right bookmaker and easy-enough to get involved for hardcore football fans and first-time bettors alike.
Just remember to be a bit sceptical of any rumours you spot on your socials, stick to my own or other trusted betting tips, and compare the market widely for the best odds on the player transfers you’re most interested in.
My favorite sportsbook bonuses
1.
New customers only. 7 days to place qualifying bet of £10 at 1/1 (2.0) to receive 4 x £10 Free Bets. 7 day expiry. Exclusions apply. Stake not returned. 18+. T&Cs apply.
2.
£25 Free Bet
+ 25 Free Spins
Requirements (WR): 1x Deposit, Min. Deposit: £10
New UK/IE customers only. Sign up and place your first sports bet at offs of Events (2.0) or greater and if it loses, get a free bet equivalent to 50% of your first bet stake (min £10), to a maximum value of £25 plus 25 free spins on Gold Horsey Winner. Full T&Cs apply. 18+ / BeGambleAware.org
3.
£20 Back-Up Bet as Free Bet
Min. Deposit: £10
Min deposit £10, Max stake £10, Min Odds 1/1 (2.0); Max free bet £10; New players only
4.
Bet £10 Get £30 Surprise Bet
Min. Deposit: £10
New customers & 18+ only. Min. deposit of £10. Qualifying real money bet of £10. Min odds greater than or equal to 1.5 required. E/W bets excluded. Offer awarded immediately but could be issued the next working day in exceptional circumstances such as technical fault. Additional T&Cs apply. Please gamble responsibly.
5.
100% Profit Boost up to £100
Min. Deposit: £10
New reg only. Claim by placing a min deposit £10 via ‘My Offers’ page within 30 days. 7 days to stake max £10 in-play, min odds 1/1 (2.0). Max. extra winnings £100. Once claimed, 30-day expiry. Cashed out, System & EW bets do not qualify. Other Promotional Play Restrictions Apply. T&Cs apply.
Yup. Though you will need to be careful to only ever make deposits with properly licensed bookies. Find out how to spot them by reading my guide.
Football bettors like you have a bunch of different options for betting on the beautiful game. Read my expert guide here to see what I mean.
This depends on which bookie you’re betting with. Some stick with the main transfer window, while others accept transfer bets year-round. Check out my guide to betting on football transfers and you can also explore my pick of the top bookies who offer this style of betting.
