The January 2025 transfer window has been particularly active across Europe’s top five leagues, with a total of 565 completed deals amounting to £1.1 billion in transfers. Clubs have been working against the clock to strengthen their squads, making strategic signings and loan deals to reinforce their ranks for the second half of the season.
Premier League Activity
One of the standout late moves saw Axel Disasi leave Chelsea to join Aston Villa on loan. Villa, who have already secured a couple of high-profile loan signings, added the French defender to bolster their defensive options. Meanwhile, Wolves continued their squad restructuring by signing Marshall Munetsi from Reims for £16 million and Nasser Djiga from Red Star Belgrade for £10 million.
Everton made a late push by securing Carlos Alcaraz from Flamengo on loan, with an option to buy. Norwich City also strengthened their midfield options by bringing in young Manchester City talent Jacob Wright on loan. Elsewhere, Chelsea left-back Zak Sturge moved to Millwall for a temporary stint, and Nottingham Forest’s Fin Back joined Wycombe Wanderers.
La Liga and Bundesliga Deals
Real Betis made a notable attacking addition by signing Cucho Fernández from Columbus Crew for £10.8 million. The Colombian international, who has impressed in MLS, will now link up with Brazilian winger Antony in a new-look Betis attack. In another interesting La Liga move, Borna Barisic left Trabzonspor for Leganés on loan as the Spanish club fights relegation.
Reims, meanwhile, brought back US international Jordan Siebatcheu from Union Berlin for £3.8 million. The striker returns to his former club after struggling to make an impact in the Bundesliga, managing just five goals in 64 appearances.
Serie A and Ligue 1 Transfers
The Italian market saw plenty of movement, particularly with loan deals. Milan brought in Riccardo Sottil from Fiorentina for an initial €1 million loan fee with a €10 million purchase option, while Juventus allowed young midfielder Nicolò Fagioli to leave for Fiorentina in a deal that includes an initial €2.5 million loan fee and a mandatory €13.5 million purchase clause. Milan’s Kevin Zeroli also moved on loan to Monza in search of more game time.
Verona’s Dani Silva made a move to Denmark, signing with FC Midtjylland for £2.9 million, with the club’s football director praising the Portuguese playmaker’s ability to bring a fresh dimension to their squad.
Tactical Maneuvers and Transfer Trends
Many clubs faced financial restrictions, particularly in England, where financial fair play (FFP) concerns limited spending last year. However, this window saw more movement as teams tried to secure loan deals and smart signings without breaching regulations.
At the top of the Premier League, Liverpool remains quiet on the transfer front despite leading the title race. However, the unresolved contract situations of Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk, and Trent Alexander-Arnold remain a talking point, as all three are now eligible to discuss pre-contract agreements with foreign clubs. Arsenal, meanwhile, is still weighing up whether to bring in reinforcements in attack.
Manchester City, struggling in Rodri’s absence, may still look for a midfield signing to stabilize their title push. Manchester United, facing financial constraints, needs to offload players before making any significant signings, while Tottenham’s Ange Postecoglou is eager to strengthen his squad to revive their season.
In Spain, Barcelona remains focused on securing the permanent registration of Dani Olmo, a move that could impact their ability to bring in further reinforcements. With their form dipping, the pressure is on, while rivals Atlético Madrid and Real Madrid may make late investments to gain an edge in the title race.
In Germany, Bayer Leverkusen have signed young striker Alejo Sarco as they push to remain competitive in both domestic and European competitions. At Bayern Munich, Vincent Kompany faces a dilemma on whether to stick with his current squad or make last-minute moves in what is shaping up to be a two-horse Bundesliga title race.
Italy has a fierce three-way title battle unfolding between Inter Milan, Napoli, and Atalanta, making strategic mid-season signings all the more critical. A well-timed addition could provide the decisive edge. Meanwhile, in France, clubs like Monaco and Marseille could continue their ambitious spending in an attempt to challenge Paris Saint-Germain.
With the transfer window now closed, clubs will shift focus back to the pitch, hoping their new signings can make an immediate impact.
