Which Premier League Clubs Have Done the Best Transfer Business in January?
by Devesh Jaganath | by Cydias Aujard
Manchester City Splash Cash on Reinforcements
The Citizens were dealt a major blow early in the season with 2024 Ballon d'Or winner Rodri sustaining an ACL injury that is expected to keep him sidelined until next term. In the Spaniard’s absence, opponents have exploited City’s lack of defensive stability as we saw when they were dismantled by Sporting Lisbon in November, forcing the league champs to dig deep into their coffers to find solutions.
Pep Guardiola’s side have made three major signings this month, with the first being Abdukodir Khusanov who arrived at the Etihad Stadium from outfit RC Lens for a reported £33.7m. The 20-year-old centre-back was one of the highest-rated young defenders in Ligue 1 over the first half of the season and became the first Uzbek to play in the Premier League when he made his debut in the 3-1 win against Chelsea on January 25.
Man City’s second transfer this month was another defensive addition in the form of now-former Palmeiras central defender Vitor Reis, who cost the Sky Blues £29.6m, making him the most expensive teenage signing in club history. Hugo Viana, City’s incoming director of football, was instrumental in this deal, reportedly reaching out personally to Abel Ferreira, who is a close friend to gather more information about the 19-year-old starlet.
While defensive additions have been the priority for the champs, their marquee signing in January was an attacking one in Omar Marmoush from Eintracht Frankfurt for a fee of £59m rising to £63.2m with add-ons. The 25-year-old Egyptian striker scored 20 goals and 14 assists in 26 games this season for the Bundesliga side before making the switch, and he has signed a contract that will keep him at the Etihad until the summer of 2029.
Ipswich Town Make Moves to Avoid Relegation
Ipswich Town have battled at the bottom end of the Premier League for the entire first half of the season, currently in 19th place with 16 points after 23 games. They have shipped 47 goals already this term while only scoring 21, necessitating acquisitions to bolster the squad at both ends of the pitch in an attempt to fend off the drop.
The Tractor Boys’ first move was bringing in England international Ben Godfrey on loan from Atlanta after the centre-back played just 22 minutes for the Serie A side since joining from Everton for £10 last summer. The 27-year-old was an unused substitute for the team’s matches against Brighton and Liverpool this month but made his debut at Portman Road in the 6-0 hammering against Man City on January 19.
In attack, Kieran McKenna’s side completed the loan signing of Julio Enciso from Brighton & Hove Albion until the end of the season. The Paraguay international rose to prominence in the 2022-23 season when he scored a stunning long-range strike against the Citizens that was voted Premier League Goal of the Season and earned him a nomination for the FIFA Puskas Award. Enciso made a bright debut for Ipswich, providing an assist in the defeat to Liverpool last week.
Ipswich’s biggest signing of the winter window is Jaden Philogene, who cost in the region of £20m to pry him away from Aston Villa. The 22-year-old winger spent time on loan with Stoke City, Cardiff City and Hull City, and has now penned a four-and-a-half-year deal at Portman Road. Philogene played 11 times for the Villans this season and has already featured twice since arriving in Suffolk.
Additional Top-flight A-List Acquisitions
Outside of Man City and Ipswich, Aston Villa made the next-most expensive signing in the January transfer market, forking over £19m + £2.5m in add-ons to German giants Borussia Dortmund for the signature of Donyell Malen. The Dutch international made his Premier League debut in claret and blue in their 1-1 draw against West Ham United and is expected to be a regular feature for the remainder of the season.
Tottenham Hotspur are having a nightmare season, much of which is attributable to their injury woes, particularly in defence, with Guglielmo Vicario suffering a fractured ankle while Fraser Forster missed several games due to a stomach bug. As a result, the Lilywhites were quick to snap up Antonin Kinsky from Slavia Prague for a fee of £12.5m, and the 21-year-old has been tossed straight into action, featuring between the sticks three times since arriving in London.
Another team that has been underperforming this season is Wolverhampton Wanderers, who are on 16 points and the first team below the dotted line. Wolves have conceded 52 goals already in this campaign and have looked to strengthen in defence by bringing in Emmanuel Agbadou from Reims on a four-and-a-half-year deal. The Ivory Coast international has started three games in a row in the Black Country and will have to play a big part for the team if they are to avoid the drop this season.
