The 10 Biggest January Football Transfers in History

The 10 Biggest January Football Transfers in History.

January transfer windows are often filled with high-stakes moves as clubs look to strengthen their squads for the second half of the season. While the summer transfer window typically dominates headlines, January has seen some of the biggest and most surprising football transfers in history.

From blockbuster signings to late-game changes that shaped entire seasons, the winter window has provided its fair share of drama and excitement. In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the most significant and game-changing football transfers that took place in January, leaving a lasting impact on the sport.

10) Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Borussia Dortmund to Arsenal, 2018 – £56m)

Even though his time at Arsenal ended on a sour note, it shouldn't overshadow the good moments they shared. Aubameyang is among the top scorers in Arsenal's history, with only seven players ahead of him, all of whom played at least 90 more games for the club. If only he had been a bit more reliable with his timing.

9) Diego Costa (Chelsea to Atletico Madrid, 2018 – £57m)

One of football's biggest puzzles is how Chelsea managed to offload a 29-year-old Diego Costa to Atletico Madrid for £57m, especially since he was clearly not in their plans. Antonio Conte even sent him a breakup text right after they clinched the title in summer 2017. By the time he made his return to Spain, Costa hadn't played professionally for seven months. His second stint in La Liga saw him rack up 61 appearances, scoring 12 goals, but also collecting 17 yellow cards and an eight-game ban for giving a referee a hard time.

8) Aymeric Laporte (Athletic Bilbao to Manchester City, 2018 – £57.2m)

After Liverpool set the record for the highest transfer fee for a defender, Manchester City decided to bring in Aymeric Laporte. It hasn't been all smooth sailing, but winning four Premier League titles in five years shows how much he has matured into a key player for the team.

7) Christian Pulisic (Borussia Dortmund to Chelsea, 2019 – £57.56m)

Things haven't exactly gone smoothly for Christian Pulisic. With three different managers in less than four years, it’s tough to find consistency, especially during such a chaotic time. Frank Lampard, Thomas Tuchel, and Graham Potter have all had a hard time tapping into what makes the American tick. And let’s not forget, Maurizio Sarri was at the helm when the transfer was finalized.

6) Oscar (Chelsea to Shanghai SIPG, 2017 – £60m)

Chelsea pulled off a wild move when they sold Diego Costa for £57m, but they really outdid themselves with Oscar’s transfer to Shanghai SIPG for £60m in 2017. He was pretty much a benchwarmer at that point, and Jamie Carragher called it “embarrassing” for the Brazilian. But hey, he can probably laugh it off while counting his cash.

5) Mykhaylo Mudryk (Shakhtar Donetsk to Chelsea, 2023 – £62m)

You might hear a lot about this being an £89m deal, but the reality is Chelsea only forked out an initial £62m for Mykhaylo Mudryk. The hype was that he was all set to join Arsenal just a week earlier. Now, he’s locked in with an eight-and-a-half-year contract, which is quite a commitment!

4) Dusan Vlahovic (Fiorentina to Juventus, 2022 – £66.6m)

In January 2022, Dusan Vlahovic faced a tough choice that had the football community buzzing. After smashing records at Fiorentina, the young forward had a ton of clubs vying for his signature. Arsenal, as expected, were turned down as he opted for a move to Juventus. Just imagine what could have happened otherwise.

3) Virgil van Dijk (Southampton to Liverpool, 2018 – £75m)

When Virgil van Dijk made his move from Southampton to Liverpool on January 1, 2018, it set a record for the most expensive January transfer ever, catching everyone off guard with the hefty price tag. But looking back, it was a steal for Liverpool, as he became a key player in one of the strongest teams in Premier League history.

2) Enzo Fernandez (Benfica to Chelsea, 2023 – £106.8m)

This transfer was a real rollercoaster, with Chelsea and Fernandez's move being on and off throughout January. In the end, they went all in, paying more than his €120 million release clause, but they worked out a payment plan that fit their budget. Their main goal? To stretch out the costs as much as they could over those lengthy eight-and-a-half-year contracts they love to hand out.

1) Philippe Coutinho (Liverpool to Barcelona, 2018 – £142m)

Liverpool was just stalling the inevitable when they turned down Barcelona's three bids in the summer of 2017. After waiting half a season and throwing in an extra £20 million, Barca finally snagged Coutinho. But honestly, neither he nor the club is likely to look back on that transfer with any fondness.

The top 10 biggest January football transfers showcase the unpredictable nature of the winter window, where clubs make crucial moves to reshape their squads. From Philippe Coutinho's £142m move to Barcelona, which turned into a costly affair, to Virgil van Dijk's game-changing £75m switch to Liverpool, these deals have had a significant impact on both the players' careers and their new clubs.

Whether it’s the surprise of Mykhaylo Mudryk’s quick shift to Chelsea or the consistency of players like Aymeric Laporte, January transfers continue to deliver drama and excitement that can shape footballing futures for years to come.

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