Ranking the Best Signings of the January Transfer Window

The January transfer window has officially been and gone. Now, Europe's biggest clubs are unable to further strengthen their squads and must make full use of what they already have in their ranks between now and the end of the season in May. But unlike last summer's spending extravaganza, teams were seemingly unwilling - or unable - to part with their hard-earned cash this winter.

In the Premier League alone, only two of the league's so-called "Big Six" opted to make new signings. Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea, and Manchester United all sat on the sidelines, while Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur opted for new additions. The former of those two winter spenders remains alive in the title race, although online betting sites make them distant second-favorites.

Websites that allow one to bet on sports with crypto currently make Pep Guardiola's Blues a 9/2 shot to win the Premier League this term, miles behind 1/5 frontrunners Arsenal, despite City's spending. It will be fascinating to see whether their outlay makes any difference to their success and, in turn, their rankings.

Elsewhere throughout Europe, the likes of Real Madrid, Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, and Bayern Munich all kept their chequebook closed. So, with that being said, what were the most eye-catching deals of a somewhat quiet January window? Let's take a look.

Ademola Lookman to Atlético Madrid

Diego Simeone has been looking for a creative force in his Atletico Madrid side for years. Just last summer, Thiago Almada, Nico González, and Giacomo Raspadori all arrived for significant sums; however, none of them have been able to nail down a guaranteed starting berth at the Metropolitano. If we go further back, the likes of Joao Felix, Matheus Cunha, and Memphis Depay have all failed in their attempts to become the heartbeat of the Los Rojiblancos attack.

Now, however, Simeone has surely found his man in the form of Ademola Lookman. The English-born Nigerian international arrives in the Spanish capital after emerging as a superstar in Italy with Atalanta. The former Everton man shot to prominence when he led the Bergamo outfit to Europa League glory in 2024, netting a blistering hat trick in the Dublin final against Xabi Alonso's seemingly unbeatable Bayer Leverkusen, and now he takes his supreme talent to Atleti.

A fee of €35m was enough to prise the 28-year-old from his former club, and if his debut is anything to go by, that price looks to be a steal. Lookman scored and provided an assist in his Atletico debut, a 4-0 drubbing of Real Betis in the Copa Del Rey. If he can continue that form throughout the remaining months of the campaign, then El Cholo's side will surely be competitive both in the Champions League and La Liga.

Marc Guehi to Manchester City

Marc Guehi has been one of the most consistent Premier League defenders for the better part of the last three years. The 25-year-old's impressive displays saw him awarded the captain's armband at now-former club Crystal Palace, as well as becoming one of the first names on the England teamsheet. Last summer, it looked as though he was poised to head to Anfield and join reigning champions Liverpool, but that deal fell through at the 11th hour, resulting in him remaining at Selhurst Park until January.

With his contract poised to expire in June, Manchester City sensed their opportunity and swooped, agreeing a cut-price deal of just £20m to secure the England international's services. A defensive crisis at the Etihad had triggered Pep Guardiola to act fast, with long-term blows for John Stones, Ruben Dias, and Josko Gvardiol leaving the Blues somewhat exposed at the back. Guehi now fills that void, and he does so at a bargain price.

Guehi has already hit the ground running, delivering commanding displays at the back despite his new club's topsy-turvy form. His new manager, Guardiola, was full of praise in the aftermath of his debut against Wolves, saying: "With Marc, you see, the captain of Crystal Palace has to be something special. I know he’s so demanding, and the demand for ourselves is to be better.” Big praise for a manager known to be incredibly exacting of his squad.

Kenneth Taylor to Lazio

Serie A isn't the force it once was, and it's rare for Italian clubs to make a splash in any transfer window, let alone January. Lazio have successfully managed to do that, albeit not with a huge outlay.

Plenty of eyebrows were raised when the Eagles allowed French international midfielder Mattéo Guendouzi to depart for Fenerbahce, especially after manager Maurizio Sarri was seemingly building his squad around the Arsenal man. The Eternal City outfit received €30m for their prized asset and immediately moved to replace him.

The replacement? Ajax captain Kenneth Taylor, a man three years younger than the outgoing Guendouzi. And the kicker? The Dutch international cost just €15m, allowing Lazio to bank plenty in profit as well as securing a new midfielder as good as - if not slightly better - than the man he was brought in to replace.

The 23-year-old has already netted his first Lazio goal, scoring in the recent 3-2 victory against Genoa at the Stadio Olimpico. More goals are expected as the Eagles look to clinch the Serie A standings.

Published by Patrick Jane
10.02.2026