Premier League clubs voted today and, effective from 2018, decided to change the closing date of the summer transfer window.Instead of September 1st, all signings by Premier League clubs will need to be made by Thursday 5pm ahead of the first round of Premier League fixtures.Clubs will still be able to sell players until September 1st but no more additions will be possible until January.Other European leagues have not signed up for this so it could create a very strange dynamic in the transfer market.Managers of a host of Premier League clubs have spoken out against the current transfer window format due to uncertainty throughout August.The transfer sagas surrounding Philippe Coutinho and Alexis Sanchez created huge problems for Liverpool and Arsenal at the beginning of the season.The Premier League released a statement saying: "Premier League clubs have today agreed to a rule amendment that will see the summer transfer window in any year end at 17.00 on the Thursday before the start of the season."This is for Premier League clubs only and has no bearing on other leagues and competitions."The first transfer window in which this applies will be the summer transfer window in 2018 (ahead of the 2018/19 season) and it will close on 17.00 on Thursday 9 August 2018."This new rule applies only to the acquisition of players. Clubs will still have the ability to sell players to other leagues in which the transfer window is open (as they can now to leagues that have different transfer wind dates, e.g. MLS and CSL)."Clubs have discussed this topic at length at previous shareholders' meetings (February 2017 and June 2017) prior to today's vote."

Fans explain why it's stupid

Fans on Twitter have been explaining why this this new change makes very little sense.

Barcelona, or any other European club, could still hassle Liverpool over Philippe Coutinho until September 1st.