The January transfer window never seems to produce the same level of excitement as the summer one. Some clubs feel like they don’t need to do business midway through a season, while others dread it in case a bigger side targets one of their in-form stars.
Of course, there have been a few exceptions in recent years. Who can forget Chelsea’s spending spree in January 2023? Eight players were signed as the Blues spent in excess of £250m to bolster their squad.
January 2011 also provided plenty of excitement, as Chelsea splashed out £50m to sign Fernando Torres from Liverpool. The Anfield side subsequently used this cash to bring in Andy Carroll and Luis Suárez.
This year, however, there have only been a few major deals. We have taken a look at the biggest ones of the window.
Rank
Player
From
To
Fee
Jhon Duran
Aston Villa
Al-Nassr
Xavi Simons
PSG
RB Leipzig
Omar Marmoush
Frankfurt
Man City
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia
Napoli
PSG
Nico Gonzalez
Porto
Man City
Galeno
Porto
Al-Ahli
Abdukodir Khusanov
Lens
Man City
Vitor Reis
Palmeiras
Man City
Luiz Henrique
Botafogo
Zenit
Elye Wahi
Marseille
Frankfurt
Donyell Malen
Borussia Dortmund
Aston Villa
Jaden Philogene
Aston Villa
Ipswich
Amine Gouiri
Rennes
Marseille
Seko Fofana
Al-Nassr
Rennes
Claudinho
Zenit
Al-Sadd
Emmanuel Agabdou
Reims
Wolves
15 Emmanuel Agbadou Reims to Wolves (£16.6m)
Emmanuel Agbadou became Vitor Pereira’s first signing since taking over at Wolves. The centre-back cost the Old Gold £16.6m as the Portuguese manager bolstered his defensive options.
The Ivory Coast international arrives with plenty of experience, having made 75 appearances in Ligue 1 for Stade Reims and he could be a crucial signing as Wolves aim to avoid relegation.
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ByCharlie SmithSep 5, 2025 14 Claudinho Zenit to Al-Sadd (£16.7m)
Claudinho spent three and a half seasons with Zenit St Petersburg, scoring 21 goals for the club during his time in Russia.
The Brazilian – who helped his country win Olympic gold at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 – made the move to Qatari side Al-Sadd, who paid €20m (£16.7m) to secure his services.
13 Seko Fofana Al-Nassr to Rennes (£16.7m)
Seko Fofana made his return to Ligue 1 by agreeing a €20m (£16.7m) deal to join Rennes from Al-Nassr.
The 29-year-old helped his country win the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations, while he has also played 139 matches in the French top flight, suggesting he could turn out to be an excellent signing for Rennes.
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ByHenry JacksonJan 24, 2025 12 Amine Gouiri Rennes to Marseille (£18.4m)
Rennes spending big on Fofana meant that an outgoing was always on the cards. Ligue 1 rivals Marseille spent a reported €22m (£18.4m) including add-ons to sign attacker Amine Gouiri, with Elye Wahi having recently departed the Velodrome.
Gouiri, whose deal includes €3m worth of potential add-ons, will now link up with former Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi in the south of France.
11 Jaden Philogene Aston Villa to Ipswich (£20m)
Jaden Philogene only sealed a return to Aston Villa last summer, yet Unai Emery didn’t give him a fair crack of the whip over the first six months of the season.
Ipswich Town came in with a £20m bid, which was too good to turn down. The youngster has plenty of talent, and he could be a solid signing for the Tractor Boys as they aim to avoid relegation back to the Championship.
10 Donyell Malen Borussia Dortmund to Aston Villa (£21m)
Unai Emery selling Philogene for £20m and signing Donyell Malen to replace him for £21.5m could be a wise piece of transfer business by the manager.
The 26-year-old has a plethora of experience playing in Europe, starring for both Borussia Dortmund and PSV Eindhoven, scoring 94 goals across 248 appearances for both clubs.
If he hits the ground running, Malen could turn out to be one of Emery’s finest signings at Villa Park.
9 Elye Wahi Marseille to Frankfurt (£24.2m)
Eintracht Frankfurt sold Omar Marmoush to Manchester City, which meant they needed to sign an able replacement. Step forward, Elye Wahi. The French centre-forward joined the German side for a fee in the region of €29m including add-ons (£24.2m) from Marseille.
Injury problems had restricted the 22-year-old to just 14 appearances and three goals for the Ligue 1 side, but perhaps a fresh start in Germany could see him finally fulfil his vast potential.
8 Luiz Henrique Botafogo to Zenit (£29.3m)
Luiz Henrique departed Brazilian side Botafogo to join Zenit in a deal worth a reported €35m (£29m).
The 24-year-old has won six caps for Brazil, scoring twice for his country, while he also helped Botafogo claim the Copa Libertadores for the first time in November 2024.
Henrique has played in Europe before, enjoying a productive two-year spell at Real Betis, which could stand him in good stead following his move to Russia.
7 Vitor Reis Palmeiras to Man City (£29.6m)
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola wasted no time in bulking out his squad during the January transfer window. Brazilian defender Vitor Reis joined in a £29.6m deal from Palmeiras.
The 19-year-old has signed a four-and-a-half-year contract, despite making only 22 appearances for the Brazilian side. It is very much a transfer for the future, but what a future he has.
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ByBarney LaneJan 28, 2025 6 Abdukodir Khusanov Lens to Man City (£33.6m)
Reis wasn’t the only defender signed by Manchester City this month. Abdukodir Khusanov made history by becoming the first Uzbekistan defender to play in the Premier League.
Costing £33.6m from Lens, Guardiola has signed yet another promising talent, who could develop into a world-class centre-back.