After a busy Deadline Day, Football writer Alex Keble rounds up each Premier League club’s transfer business to see who had the best January window.
Arsenal Fail to Get a Striker
Mikel Arteta made no secret of his desire to bring in forwards after injuries to Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Jesus, but nothing materialized for Arsenal despite links to Alexander Isak and a reported late bid for Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins. Perhaps the five goals scored against Manchester City, with Ethan Nwaneri again on the scoresheet, has lessened the need for reinforcements. Nevertheless, it’s clear Arsenal could end up regretting the failure to strengthen up front as they try to hunt Liverpool down.
Aston Villa Bring in Big-Name Signings
The flurry of activity at Villa Park tells us Unai Emery hasn’t been happy with his team’s league performance this season. Villa have stuttered somewhat and, despite being only six points off the top four, have nine points fewer than at this stage last season. Emery’s response, despite an injury crisis in defense, has been to dramatically reshape the attack. Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio are big-name players and both come with risks, although Emery has a history of reviving careers and reportedly believes he is the right person to get the best out of both.
Bournemouth Look to the Future
AFC Bournemouth were hoping to sign a striker after the injuries to Evanilson and Enes Unal, but Andoni Iraola had said several times that it was the most difficult position to recruit for, and given the excellent season the Cherries are having, it is no disaster that instead the club have looked to the future. They have completed the signings of a number of teenagers, the pick of the bunch being Julio Soler, signed from Lanus.
Brentford Add a Right-Back
It’s a similar story for Brentford, who did no significant business in January after an impressive first half of the season. But supporters may have hoped for defensive signings. Only five teams have conceded more goals than Brentford’s 42, and given that Thomas Frank’s side have scored the sixth-most (42), it is only their defensive openness that has prevented a challenge for Europe. Then again, perhaps right-back Michael Kayode, signed on loan from Fiorentina, can help things.
Brighton Sign More Young Gems
Despite spending close to £200million in the summer, Brighton & Hove Albion have added three more players this month, and in typical style are hoping to unearth young gems. New centre-back Eiran Cashin has looked good at Derby County, but it remains to be seen how he will cope with the step up, considering how exposed Brighton’s defenders have been in Fabian Hurzeler’s expansive system. Meanwhile, Paraguay midfielder Diego Gomez has arrived from Inter Miami where he contributed seven goals and seven assists in his 40 appearances.
Chelsea Focus on Departures
An uncharacteristically quiet transfer window probably comes as a relief to Chelsea supporters and to Enzo Maresca, who’s done exceptionally well to create a coherent squad – and probably didn’t want any more additions. Joao Felix’s late move to AC Milan shouldn’t be an issue, considering he only started three Premier League matches, while Disasi’s move to Villa was offset by recalling Trevor Chalobah back from his loan at Crystal Palace.
Crystal Palace Hold Onto Guehi
It’s with a huge sigh of relief that the window shut with Marc Guehi still a Crystal Palace player. After Chalobah’s departure, Oliver Glasner could not afford to lose another centre-back, although Palace did not manage to find a replacement for the man who returns to Chelsea. But Palace are in a very good place at the moment, after winning five of their last seven matches in all competitions, and were in no rush to do business.
Everton Make One Late Move
A quiet month for Everton isn’t a surprise considering their recent financial difficulties – and considering just how much David Moyes is squeezing out of the players at his disposal. But right at the end of the window, Everton completed the loan signing of Carlos Alcaraz, a central midfielder last seen in the Premier League at Southampton in 2022/23.
Fulham Could Still Bring Back Willian
Injuries to Harry Wilson and Kenny Tete left Fulham searching for two new signings on Deadline Day, but clearly they struggled, ending without any additions. Willian looks set to re-join the Cottagers on a free transfer, according to reports, and given Fulham’s strong position in the league, they could afford a quiet window.
Ipswich Make Four Savvy Signings
Ipswich were one of the most active teams in the transfer window, suggesting Kieran McKenna realises a lack of quality has held them back in the Premier League this season. You would expect Ben Godfrey, once of Everton, to help with the defensive side of things, while flair has been added in the final third in the shape of Philogene and Julio Enciso.
Leicester May Regret Not Doing More
Leicester were noted for their inactivity in the window. It isn’t difficult to pinpoint where they needed to improve. Only Southampton (54) have conceded more goals than Leicester (53), whose wide-open defence has not improved since Ruud van Nistelrooy took charge. However, only one new arrival came in – right-back Woyo Coulibaly from Parma for £1.2 million – despite Leicester sitting in the bottom three for most of the 2024/25 season.
Liverpool Calm Despite No Business
An empty summer was criticised at the time but has come to look like a masterstroke, with continuity helping Arne Slot calmly tweak an already-successful team. That probably explains why Liverpool have decided to do exactly the same thing in January. No incomings and no outgoings seemed alarming in August. Nobody is panicking this time.
Man City Kickstart Their Rebuild
Pep Guardiola knows that a dramatic rebuild is required of his ageing squad. It looks like it has already begun in earnest. No fewer than four big-money signings have been made for a reported outlay of around £170million, which is more than every other club spent combined. Nico Gonzalez, the late £50million addition from Porto, could help to be the Rodri replacement Man City so badly need.
Man Utd Add Wing-Back but Miss Out on Forward
Ruben Amorim’s decision to field Kobbie Mainoo as a “false nine” in Man Utd’s defeat to Palace suggests he would have liked a forward through the door after letting Rashford go, but despite reported late moves for Christopher Nkunku and Leon Bailey nothing materialized. There was no move to find a replacement for the injured Lisandro Martinez either, leaving left wing-back Patrick Dorgu as the only major signing.
Newcastle Don’t Add Any Depth
Eight Newcastle United players have taken part in at least 22 of their 24 Premier League matches this season, suggesting that Eddie Howe is either very loyal to a core group, or – more likely – would like a deeper bench. Newcastle supporters will be disappointed, then, that the club didn’t manage to make any signings this month, with a window largely governed by exits, such as Lloyd Kelly.
Nottingham Forest Feel No News is Good News
Why would Nottingham Forest want to change anything? Their sensational season shows no sign of slowing down, and to add new players in January would risk affecting the dressing-room buzz. There was always the risk of Europe’s top clubs sniffing around, too. No news is good news for Forest fans.
Southampton Keep Hold of Dibling
Understandably, Southampton appear to have already started planning for next season. Let-back Welington has arrived after a deal was struck with Sao Paulo back in July, while teenager Joachim Kayi Sanda joins the reserves and hard-working forward Albert Gronbaek arrives on loan. Holding on to Tyler Dibling is the best news Saints fans could have hoped for.
Spurs Leave It Late but Have Good Window
Out of nowhere, Spurs fans can celebrate a very good window. The deadline-day arrival of Mathys Tel is quite the coup for Spurs and should lift spirits inside the dressing room, while Kevin Danso looks like a smart loan to help cover for Ange Postecoglou’s defensive injury crisis. Goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky is another player brought in to relieve the injury situation, completing a good month for Spurs.
West Ham Hope Ferguson Can Hit Ground Running
West Ham needed a striker. That somehow always seems to be the case, yet the issue has rarely been more urgent since the absence of Michail Antonio. Graham Potter sides don’t historically score many goals, either, so a lot rests on the performances of loan signing striker Ferguson, the forgotten man at Brighton who excelled under Potter’s tutelage.
Wolves Strengthen Exactly Where They Needed To
Wolverhampton Wanderers have invested heavily in ball-playing centre-back Emmanuel Agbadou from Rennes and were busy on deadline day, too, bringing in defender Nasser Djiga and defensive midfielder Marshall Munetsi. Those are precisely the areas in which Wolves are weakest, suggesting the January window might boost their season, especially given that nobody moved for Matheus Cunha.
