Top 10 January Transfers in Premier League History

The January transfer window is nothing short of chaotic. 

Rarely is the winter window an easy affair for clubs. Teams became desperate mid-way through the season and scramble for inflated players.

But, every now and then, January transfers prove fruitful.

Here are 10 times when this was the case.

10/ Jesse Lingard

2021 - Manchester United loan to West Ham (€2.30m / £1m)

Jesse Lingard isn't at the top of everyone’s list. But the former United midfielder had a huge impact on West Ham during his six-month loan in 2021. 

He bagged nine goals and four assists in 16 appearances. He also played a big role in helping the Hammers secure Europa League football.

Safe to say, Lingard’s career peaked at West Ham and he hasn’t been able to pick up the same form since he left.

9/ Patrice Evra 

2006 - Monaco to Manchester United (£5.5m)

Patrice Evra didn’t have a dream start at Manchester United.

On his debut, the Red Devils lost 3-1 in a derby match versus Manchester City. At first, he regretted joining United.

“My first introduction to the real Sir Alex was my debut against Manchester City. At half-time, he gave the hairdryer for one minute to every player. It was a long 15 minutes,” he recalls.

With a little more experience playing in England, Evra adapted. He ended his United career with five league titles and one Champions League. 

8/ Andy Cole

1995 - Newcastle United to Manchester United (£6.25m)

Sir Alex Ferguson had a choice between Stan Collymore and Andy Cole in January 1995. He chose the latter and it was one of the best signings of his managerial career. 

Newcastle fans loved Cole after he scored 68 goals in 74 matches. He reached unthinkable numbers at the time, scoring 41 goals in the 1993-94 league season. 

He formed one of the most prolific partnerships with Dwight Yorke. The duo scored 35 goals in the 1998-99 league between them as United achieved a treble. 

No doubt: Cole is one of the greatest Premier League strikers of the modern game.

7/ Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

2018 - Borussia Dortmund to Arsenal (€60m / £56m)

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang might have left Arsenal on a sour note, but his time at the club was a success. 

Aubemeyang was Arsenal’s club transfer at the time. He showed his value by becoming the fastest player in Arsenal history to 50 league goals in only 79 games. 

By the time he left the club, he had captained the Gunners and led them to FA Cup glory in 2019-20. 

6/ Branislav Ivanovic

2008 - Lokomotiv Moscow to Chelsea (£9m)

Branislav Ivanovic didn’t hit the ground running when he first signed for Chelsea. 

Even at the time, he admitted that he needed time to adapt: "When I arrived it was difficult for a lot of reasons. I had come from the Russian league when there was a break between seasons. I was not ready to play. I needed time to be able to get used to the training, the play and everything about the club.”

But, over time, Ivanovic became crucial to Chelsea’s defence and had a knack of scoring in pivotal moments. 

His best year was 2014-15 where he played all but a few minutes of the 38 games and was named in the Team of the Year.

5/ Bruno Fernandes 

2020 - Sporting Libson to Manchester United (€65m / £56m)

Since Bruno Fernandes joined Manchester United, he’s been their best attacking option. 

According to Opta Analyst, since the start of 2020-21, Fernandes has recorded a 40.6 xG assisted. Kevin De Bruyne and Trent Alexander-Arnold are the only other players to break 30. 

He has also created at least 75 chances in open play in each of his first full seasons at United. No other player at the club has achieved more than 43 during any one of these campaigns. 

It’s fair to say, since joining the Red Devils, Fernandes has been carrying a lacklustre side. If United can make the most of the Portuguese's potential, he could go down as a club great.

4/ Nemanja Vidic

2006 - Spartak Moscow to Manchester United (£7.5m)

Another Serbian named Nemanja made his mark in the Premier League from a January transfer.

He became part of the competition’s best-ever defensive pairing with Rio Ferdinand. United fans fell in love with the Serbian who, as Robin van Persie said, “put his head where other players are scared to put their feet.”

Vidic won five Premier League titles and one Champions League while at Old Trafford. 

3/ Nemanja Matic 

2014 - Benfica to Chelsea (€25m / £20.75m)

Nemanja Matic rejoined Chelsea on 15 January 2014. In his first appearance for The Blues, he helped to end Manchester City's unbeaten run. He was also named Man of the Match which set the tone for his time at the west London club.

Jose Mourinho said: “He has grown as a player in Portugal and has become a fantastic all-round midfielder. I am sure he will become a very important member of the squad and help us to achieve our ambitions.”

And he was right. The Serbian helped Chelsea win three Premier League titles, one FA Cup and one League Cup. 

2/ Luis Suarez 

2011 - Ajax to Liverpool (€26.5m / £22.8m)

Luis Suarez was a phenom for Liverpool. 

His 2013-14 campaign will go down as one of the greatest Premier League seasons of all time. In 33 appearances, he scored 31 goals (with 0 penalties) and 12 assists. His minutes per goal contribution was 68.9. He missed the first five games of this season and still won the Golden Boot. 

Suarez reached 120 goal contributions in 110 Premier League matches for Liverpool. 

1/ Virgil van Dijk

2018 - Southampton to Liverpool (€84.65m / £75m)

Virgil van Dijk proved to be one of the most important signings in Premier League history. Without the Dutchman, The Reds would not have won the league title or the Champions League.

Before Van Dijk’s signing in 2018, Liverpool’s defence was average at best. In Jurgen Klopp’s first season in charge, the 2015-16 campaign, Liverpool conceded 50 goals in the league. That’s 1.31 per game. 

At the start of the 2017-18 season, The Reds conceded 28 goals in 23 matches, that’s 1.21 per game. But in 26 matches following Van Dijk’s signing, Liverpool conceded 14 goals. That reduced the average goals conceded from 1.24 per 90 minutes to 0.53.

His ultra-athleticism and defensive astuteness made him the world’s best centre-back. He was runner-up in the race for the Ballon d’Or in 2019 behind Lionel Messi.

He’s the perfect example of how a January signing can transform a team’s campaign.