As Cristiano Ronaldo is now a free agent, people will naturally wonder what the rules are around other English clubs potentially signing and registering him before the January transfer window.
A few English clubs and several overseas sides have been subsequently linked with the Portuguese superstar's signature, Chelsea being one of them. football.london understand that the Blues sounded out a move for Ronaldo in July. The Athletic then reported that Todd Boehly met with the striker's agent Jorge Mendes in the summer to discuss a number of topics. However, Thomas Tuchel was a roadblock in negotiations, and the deal eventually collapsed. Whether Graham Potter is of a similar opinion remains to be seen.
But can Chelsea even register the 37-year-old before the winter market officially opens? The answer is yes, though there are a few rules that need explaining first. With that in mind, football.london has taken a look at why Ronaldo can sign for Chelsea before the January transfer window below.
