Premier League clubs have voted to close its summer transfer window before the first game of next season.

It means Premier League clubs will now not be able to register new players any later than 5pm on the Thursday before the start of the new season in mid-August.

Several bosses across the top flight had called for the change after a manic transfer deadline day this season.

Lots of clubs did business in the dying embers of the window, and players were left in limbo despite three games of the new season having already been played.

Philippe Coutinho is yet to feature for Liverpool this season and had a potential move to Barcelona hanging over him.

Similarly, Virgil van Dijk is yet to play for Southampton, but, from now on, business will be done before a ball is kicked.

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.”

As it stands, the ruling will only affect the English top flight, with no other leagues having voted on the potential change.