BBC reported that in the 1980s and 1990s, fax machines were standard for offices. In football, fax machines are also the main way to transfer files, and many transfer transactions often depend on whether the files can be sent successfully before the deadline.

However, this technology has now gradually been phased out, and clubs are now using more emails to send digital faxes or scan files.

In 2015, the transaction of De Gea's transfer from Manchester United to Real Madrid failed due to technical problems with Manchester United's fax machine, which is particularly famous.

Nevertheless, the club may still make mistakes when submitting documents to the Premier League, Football League or the FA. For example, in 2023, Nottingham Forest midfielder Lewis O'Brien's transaction to join Blackburn Rangers on loan before the transfer deadline was blocked by the English Football League for failing to submit all necessary documents in a timely manner.

England's summer transfer window will be closed at 7pm on Monday, September 1, and Scotland will be closed at 11pm on the same day.