For many ardent football fans, January 1 has two meanings; the arrival of a new year filled with hope and promise and the opening of the winter transfer window. This window is typically not as vibrant as the summer, as many clubs simply make signings that slightly improve or strengthen their squads for the rest of the campaign. Therefore, winter transfer signings are mostly brought in to replace long-term injured players or help the team avoid relegation. However, some of the Premier League’s best-ever signings have come during the January transfer window. Below are some of the best Premier League January signings of all time.
- Virgil Van Dijk, Southampton To Liverpool (2018)
Eyebrows are always raised when big-money transfer deals happen in the Premier League in January, and Van Dijk’s transfer was no exception. Liverpool prised the imposing centre-back from Southampton for £75 million, making him the most expensive defender in history at the time. However, Van Dijk has more than justified his hefty price tag because Liverpool would not be where they are today without him. Jurgen Klopp’s side was very vulnerable at the back, and Van Dijk’s arrival was just what they needed to stabilise their defence. He was pretty instrumental in helping Liverpool win the UEFA Champions League in 2019 and their first-ever Premier League title in the 2019-20 season. Nowadays, he is widely regarded as the best centre back in the Premier League and one of the best defenders in the world.
- Nemanja Vidic, Spartak Moscow To Manchester United (2006)
Nemanja Vidic’s £7 million transfer from Spartak Moscow to Manchester United surely goes down as one of the best premier league transfers of all time, not just in January. After scouting him for three years, Alex Ferguson snapped up the defender at the beginning of his prime. Manchester United won the League Cup within two months of his arrival, highlighting his instant impact. Vidic would go on to win five Premier League titles and the UEFA Champions League. He is one of the only three players to be named Premier League Player of the Season twice, alongside Cristiano Ronaldo and Thierry Henry.
- Bruno Fernandes, Sporting Lisbon To Manchester United (2020)
Bruno Fernandes came to Manchester United in January 2020, transforming the team instantly. United was in dire need of an attacking midfielder to partner the inconsistent Paul Pogba, and the £46 million they paid for Fernandes proved to be more than a bargain. He scored 28 goals and provided 17 assists in his first year at Manchester United. The Red Devils were also highly likely to miss out on a top-four finish before his arrival, but he propelled them to a solid third-place finish. Therefore, it is no surprise that he received Manchester United’s player of the season award despite only arriving in January.
- Luis Suarez, Ajax To Liverpool (2011)
Liverpool snapped up Luis Suarez on deadline day in 2011, but his arrival was overshadowed by fellow final day signing Andy Caroll. However, it was Suarez who set the Premier League ablaze during his time at Liverpool, scoring 82 times in 133 games. The clinical Uruguayan won the 2013-14 Golden boot with a stunning 31 goals in 33 Premier League appearances, although his heroics weren’t enough to stop Liverpool’s title hopes from slipping. Suarez was unplayable on his day, turning defenders inside out game after game. However, his time at Liverpool was riddled with controversy, and he was eventually sold to Barcelona in 2014.
- Riyad Mahrez, Le Havre To Leicester City (2014)
Leicester City signed the Algerian sensation, Riyad Mahrez, for just £400,000 from Ligue 2 side Le Havre in January 2014. Very few, if any, could have predicted the monumental impact Mahrez would have on Leicester City’s history after his quiet signing. He managed just 3 league goals in his first 19 games in his initial season. In the following campaign, he scored seven goals to help Leicester finish 14th in the league, avoiding relegation on-demand. In 2015-16, Claudio Ranieri’s arrival unlocked Mahrez’s full potential, as he scored 17 goals and provided ten assists. Also, he helped his team to an astonishing Premier League title win that undoubtedly made you rich if you did place a bet on The Foxes to win that season.
- Nemanja Matic, Benfica To Chelsea (2014)
Chelsea re-signed Matic in 2014 at Jose Mourinho’s instruction. The enigmatic Portuguese manager needed a solid defensive presence in the heart of a midfield three, and Matic proved to be the perfect answer to his prayers. The tactically aware and ever-present midfielder made 151 appearances for Chelsea and had a lot of excellent performances that made him the best defensive midfielder in the league. He won two Premier League titles at Chelsea before moving to Manchester United in 2017.
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Borussia Dortmund to Arsenal (2018)
Arsenal fans were certainly not expecting to break their club transfer record for one of the best strikers in the world in January 2018. However, the quick Gabonese finisher turned up to the Emirates after being tipped to move to Chelsea throughout January. Arsene Wenger’s last ever signing for Arsenal had an electric start to life in London, scoring 10 goals and providing 4 assists in just 13 Premier League games. He became the quickest player in Arsenal’s history to reach 50 league goals, winning the 2018-19 Golden Boot in the process. Moreover, he led Arsenal to FA Cup Glory in 2019-20, scoring a brace against Chelsea in the FA Cup final.
