User's manual: Stijn Spierings' emergency Toulouse return | OneFootball

Toulouse FC reached an agreement with RC Lens this week to take Stijn Spierings on loan as an emergency signing. Here's a look at the possibilities on offer for Ligue 1 Uber Eats clubs after the transfer window closed.

Stijn Spierings is already back at Toulouse FC. The Dutch midfielder had opted for RC Lens at the start of the summer, after his contract with Les Violets expired in June. But after a mixed start to his career in Artois - and his non-inclusion in the Sang et Or squad registered for the Champions League, the Dutchman has decided to return to Toulouse FC as an emergency signing. Here are the details.

Emergency recruitment

Although the transfer market in France closed on Friday 1 September, Ligue 1 Uber Eats clubs can still add to their squads with 'out-of-contract' players and emergency signings.

As they look to complete their summer shopping spree, French clubs have the opportunity to recruit players who are free of any commitments. In other words, any player "whose employment contract ended before the end of the main registration period", i.e. before 1 September in France, according to LFP regulations.

Le joker

In terms of arrivals, it is also possible to recruit an emergency signing, a so-called 'joker', from another French club, as of the day after the summer transfer window closes.

"This possibility of emergency recruitment is strictly limited to one player per club," the LFP rules state. In 2019, OM succeeded in luring Valentin Rongier from FC Nantes on 3 September.

Similarly, Toulouse FC took advantage of this possibility to bring back Stijn Spierings, who left his mark on the club's recent history by contributing to the club's return to the elite and its Coupe de France final victory last May.