Bristol City and Bristol Rovers, along with their EFL rivals, receive important dates for the upcoming summer transfer window.

The EFL has confirmed that the summer transfer window will commence on Friday, June 14, and conclude at 11 pm on Friday, August 30. Supporters of both Bristol City and Bristol Rovers eagerly anticipate seeing which new players their clubs will sign while dreading potential departures in preparation for the upcoming season.

This provides EFL clubs approximately eight weeks to assemble their squads before the commencement of the 2024/25 campaign, scheduled to start on the weekend of August 10. However, due to the new Sky Sports TV deal, the first set of games is set to kick off on Friday, August 9, with two matches from the Championship and one each from League One and League Two.

Clubs will have an additional three weeks following these initial fixtures to finalize any necessary incoming and outgoing transfers. The specifics of how the new TV deal will impact the opening weekends for City and Rovers will be confirmed after both clubs release their fixtures for the new season, currently scheduled for 9 am on Wednesday, June 26. Nevertheless, it’s certain that their first league matches of the season will be televised on Sky in some capacity.

Both Bristol City and Bristol Rovers have significant tasks ahead following the release of their retained lists. However, Rovers are expected to be the more active of the two clubs during the summer transfer window, having seen 13 players depart, including seven released and six loanees returning to their parent clubs.

With new director of football George Friend and an overhauled recruitment structure in place, Rovers face a substantial challenge as they embark on their first summer under their new leadership. Manager Matt Taylor aims to shape a squad to his liking after Rovers finished in 15th place in League One last season.

Meanwhile, Bristol City underwent a managerial change, with Liam Manning taking over from Nigel Pearson just weeks before their city rivals appointed Taylor following the dismissal of Joey Barton. Despite the managerial switch, City do not require as extensive a squad overhaul as Rovers as they prepare for their 10th consecutive season in the Championship.

In an interview with BBC Radio Bristol, Manning expressed his desire to strengthen the squad with a winger, a physical striker, and a creative No. 10. The responsibility for realizing this vision falls largely on the technical director.

City have released three senior players, including Matty James, Andreas Weimann, and the newly-retired Andy King, while negotiations are ongoing with midfielder Joe Williams.

The transfer window will close two days earlier than last year, with the deadline remaining at 11 pm. This timing has significance for Rovers, who narrowly missed out on a club-record deal to re-sign striker Jonson Clarke-Harris from Peterborough United by seconds on deadline day last year.