Ferran Torres (FC Barcelona, Twitter.com)
It was a surprisingly exciting January transfer window, with some major moves being made as some teams desperately tossed cash around to improve their squad quality and depth. We had numerous big names find new clubs as well as some transfers for the long-term future that involved lesser-known players.
In this article, I'll be focusing on all of the major transfers in Europe's top 5 leagues and giving a grade as well as my thoughts for both clubs that were involved in the deal.
I'll be starting from January 1 and making my way all the way to Deadline Day. Now that the explanation is complete, I can start the grading.
(All fees are expressed in American dollars)
RW Ferran Torres
Manchester City -> Barcelona
Fee: $61 million
Man City: A-
Barcelona: B+
After joining Manchester City from Valencia in a cut-price deal, Torres really started to establish himself as a very solid forward. He started to become a center forward when Sergio Aguero left City in the summer. His performances for Spain have been impressive as well. However, Man City were easily winning matches even without Torres' injury, showing that they had no need for him anymore. The fact that they were able to triple the money they spent on him gives them their high mark.
Joan Laporta was insistent on Barcelona showing their financial might and improving their forward line. $60 million is probably fair in the context of today's market. I don't think Torres is a game-breaker, but the fees for the Spaniard will reportedly be paid in several different installments, meaning that Barca were able to pick up an impact player without prolonging their financial woes, at least in the immediate future.
ST Ricardo Pepi
FC Dallas -> Augsburg
Fee: $18 million
Dallas: A-
Augsburg: A-
Yet another player coming through Dallas' academy and being sold off for a huge profit, Pepi was a key part of the MLS side's expectations heading into the next MLS season, but a fee of that magnitude for an unproven 19-year old is not something to complain about.
Augsburg are a club that understand what it feels like to battle relegation. They haven't had much success other than a fluke fifth place in 2014-15. Therefore, it makes sense to take a risk on an obvious talent like Pepi. If he can adjust to the Bundesliga quickly, they should be able to sell him off for a lot of money in the future.
LB Vitalii Mykolenko
Dynamo Kyiv -> Everton
Fee: $26 million
Dynamo Kyiv: C
Everton: C+
Still a key member of Dynamo Kyiv, Mykolenko was important in their title hopes in the Ukrainian Premier League. Currently in the midst of an intense fight with Shakhtar Donestk, Mykolenko's sale showed just how much power English teams have in the global market. They didn't find a suitable external replacement and the loss of a versatile defender like Mykolenko will hinder their chances of making it to the Champions League next campaign.
The freezing-out of Lucas Digne led to Everton searching for a new left-back. Long-term target Mykolenko was expected to be available. The $26 million fee seemed like a lot of money for a somewhat unproven player. So far, he has been very unconvincing at Goodison Park, but in a very small sample size.
RB Kieran Trippier
Atletico Madrid -> Newcastle
Fee: $15 million
Atletico Madrid: C
Newcastle: A
Trippier was incredibly important to Atletico's LaLiga run, helping Diego Simeone's side put up an impressive defensive record, while also bombing down the right flank with some direction. He was valued at over $40 million in the summer when Manchester United were sniffing around the England international. Losing a key member of a squad that is struggling to even ensure UCL qualification for such a low fee is a major L for les Rojiblancos.
The first signing of a transformative new era for Newcastle United, Trippier will certainly improve Newcastle as a squad. Over the last three years, he has won a LaLiga title, played in a Champions League final and assisted a goal in a Euros final. He is one of the better right-backs in world football and his signing for $15 million should prove to be a bargain for the Geordies.
Philippe Coutinho (Shaun Botterill, Getty Images)
CAM Philippe Coutinho
Barcelona -> Aston Villa
Fee: loan
Barcelona: C-
Aston Villa: A-
It's safe to say that Barcelona's purchase of Coutinho is one of the biggest wastes of money in human history. Okay, that might be slightly dramatic, but it's a simple fact that la Blaugrana spent $150 million on a player who possessed limited impact and is now possibly on his way out of the club. Watching the Brazilian succeed in Hansi Flick's treble-winning Bayern Munich side is one thing, but seeing him be kicked to the curb and loaned to Aston Villa with an option to buy of just $40 million is disastrous.
Though Coutinho is no longer pulling off precocious moments of magic at the same rate as he was at Liverpool, he is still an immensely gifted playmaker who gives Aston Villa an immediate star to add to their ranks. His set-piece delivery paired with his long passing range makes him a valuable addition to Steven Gerrard's Villa. Expect Coutinho to work wonder on the wing. Even as I'm writing this, he has a goal and two assists against Leeds.
CM Ainsley Maitland-Niles
Arsenal -> Roma
Fee: loan
Arsenal: C+
Roma: B-
This move didn't make sense at the time for the Gunners and it makes even less sense now that we have the full context of their transfer window activity available to us. AMN likely wasn't going to be a starter for Arsenal, but he's a versatile home-grown player who can fill in at most positions. The fact that Arsenal are no longer in any domestic cups keeps this from being a much lower grade, but it still seems like a strange move as Maitland-Niles' long-term future remains uncertain.
What is it with Jose Mourinho and washed Arsenal midfielders? A bid for Granit Xhaka failed in the summer, so they swooped in for AMN in January. He's still a solid player who gives them a well-rounded option at wing-back and allows Mourinho to experiment with his formations, but this isn't a game-breaking move for Roma.
LW Lorenzo Insigne
Napoli -> Toronto FC
Fee: free
Napoli: C
Toronto: A
Quite possibly the most peculiar transfer in the last decade, Lorenzo Insigne swapped his childhood club for a major paycheck in Toronto. Napoli have had a good season in Serie A and Insigne has been a key part of their season. He was available on a Bosman deal, so Napoli were likely prepared for an Insigne exit, but it still hurts the overall quality of the squad immensely.
This was a huge coup for TFC. It isn't often that an MLS side can pick up a player of Insigne's quality. He has a legitimate argument that he is the best player in MLS history, as he is a proven match-winner in the prime of his career. His creative exploits down the wing will be thrilling to watch. The Reds had a disappointing season last year, but adding Insigne makes them a legitimate MLS Cup threat.
CM Sergio Oliveira
Porto -> Roma
Fee: loan
Porto: C+
Roma: A-
It was a tough transfer window for Portuguese league leaders Porto. They lost crucial parts of their squad and Oliveira is certainly one of them. Of all the departures they've had this window, the Oliveira departure is particularly head-scratching. His performances in the UCL against Juventus last season were impressive enough to warrant a move to a big team, but a loan with an option to buy of just $10 million is peculiar to me.
If Oliveira's first few matches for I Giallarossi are anything to go by, the Portugal international is in for a successful spell in Serie A. He's been putting up match-winning performances for Roma and he already has 2 goals and 1 assist in 3 matches in the league. Serie A is an incredibly competitive league, but if Oliveira can continue his form, Roma have a good shot at fighting their way into the European spots.
ST Chris Wood
Burnley -> Newcastle
Fee: $33 million
Burnley: B+
Newcastle: B
Chris Wood is a good striker and was a big part of Burnley's survival chances. However, a fee of $33 million for his services is a very helpful amount to help Burnley improve the squad in the summer. This sale would have been graded lower if the Clarets couldn't find an adequate striker replacement, but by picking up Wout Weghorst for less than half the fee they received for Wood, I feel they did well in January.
This move is more about weakening Burnley than it is helping Newcastle. Frankly, I like the strategy Newcastle took with this transfer. They now have a squad that should be capable of staying in the EPL, but by taking away one of Burnley's best players means that Burnley are more likely to fall into the relegation spots instead of Newcastle. Callum Wilson is currently injured, so pursuing a striker was wise. I do think it was a little too expensive, but the logic of the move makes sense.
LB Lucas Digne
Everton -> Aston Villa
Fee: $33 million
Everton: D
Aston Villa: A-
If Lucas Digne remains a top-class left-back in world football now that he plays for Villa, this move will go down as one of the most perplexing transfers in recent memory. Former coach Rafa Benitez reportedly had a bit of an altercation with the Frenchman, so to ease the tensions, Everton sold him to an EPL rival on a cut-price deal. They then fired Benitez a few days later. Why didn't they fire Benitez earlier and hold on to Digne? Who knows?
If you read my ranking of all Premier League clubs' transfer windows, you would know precisely what I thought of Villa's window and the Digne signing is no exception. He is one of the best left-backs in the Premier League and he offers a real attacking outlet that Matt Targett didn't always possess. He should flourish with Philippe Coutinho down the left flank and he'll make Villa very dangerous.
Jesus Corona (Ryan Barclay, Blaze Trends)
RM Jesus Corona
Porto -> Sevilla
Fee: $3.9 million
Porto: C
Sevilla: A
Yet another really good player that exited Porto in January. It seemed like Corona was going to leave for free in the summer, so naturally it made sense for Porto to try to make as much money off of the winger as possible. However, if a team like Sporting CP or Benfica catches up in the title race in Portugal, selling Corona midway through an impressive season will be deemed a huge error.
Real Madrid are still the heavy favourites to bring home the LaLiga title this season, but Sevilla are definitely in the race. Their recent form hasn't been convincing, but a move to bring in versatile Mexican winger Jesus Corona on a bargain bin deal should freshen their attack. He is capable of playing right-back too. Jesus Navas' injury has left Sevilla a bit exposed down the right flank, so a move for Corona is good business.
RW David Neres
Ajax -> Shakhtar Donetsk
Fee: $13 million
Ajax: C+
Shakhtar: A-
It just never worked out for David Neres in Holland. A logjam of talented Ajax wingers, including Antony, Mohamed Daramy and Steven Berghuis kept Neres from ever making a real impact in the Eredivisie. It doesn't look like he'll ever reach the potential we expected from him, but after failing in a bid to bring Steven Bergwijn to Ajax, talented winger depth might have been helpful as Ajax prepare for a Champions League run.
Though he isn't as highly rated as he was a few years ago, it's a bit of a coup for Shakhtar to secure the services of Neres. They are well-known for their development of Brazilian players and Neres has sky-high potential to unlock. He may not be a starter due to the blistering form of fellow Brazilian Tete, but he should get some minutes in a bid to win the title in the Ukrainian league.
ST Sardar Azmoun
Zenit St. Petersburg -> Leverkusen
Fee: free
Zenit: B-
Leverkusen: B+
Azmoun was always expected to pursue a different experience, so there wasn't much Zenit could do to keep their talisman. Letting him leave in the middle of the season is a bit strange, as they still have a title race on their hands and they are currently in the Europa League, but their hands were a bit tied. They weren't ever going to squeeze a transfer fee out of anybody, so this is about what I expected.
The Iranian is a lethal striker and Leverkusen have added him to their ranks for less than the price of a chocolate bar. Can't really fault them on that. I'm a bit confused as to how Azmoun fits into this Leverkusen side, as their attacking options are already world-class (defense was their issue). I have a feeling that Patrik Schick could be on his way out, as his brilliant season in the Bundesliga will have gathered the attention of many. If so, Azmoun would be a good replacement up top.
LW Jeremie Boga
Sassuolo -> Atalanta
Fee: $24 million
Sassuolo: B+
Atalanta: B
Former Chelsea youth prospect Jeremie Boga was a solid contributor for Sassuolo for a few years. However, $25 million is about as good as they could have hoped for as a transfer fee. He's been more of a bench option lately and he only has two Serie A goal contributions all season. He does possess a bit of quality, but a fee of over $20 million should go a long way to find a replacement. Not to mention, they already have Hamed Traore on the left wing.
It's a testament to Atalanta's incredible transfer business in the past that this transfer broke the record for their largest fee on an incoming player. He's a good dribbler with strong finishing ability. He started off his career in Bergamo strong with a strike against Fiorentina in the Coppa Italia.
ST Anthony Martial
Manchester United -> Sevilla
Fee: loan
Man United: C-
Sevilla: B+
Once tipped to win a Ballon d'Or with Manchester United, Martial has had a tumultuous few years. He almost has 80 goals in a United shirt, so he clearly has talent, but for whatever reason, the Frenchman could never put it together. Martial has wanted a fresh start for a few months now, so it's perplexing that United waited so long to move on. Maybe a title challenge with Sevilla will jumpstart his career, but it seems unlikely that we will ever seen Martial's best form at Old Trafford.
Another clever move for Julen Lopetegui's men. Martial may not have the finishing ability of a top-class striker, but he is a tricky forward to face in a 1-v-1 battle. He'll be a good winger for Sevilla and though it may be unlikely, there is always the chance that he brings the world-class form from his peak days in 2019 to Spain.
Robin Gosens (Getty Images)
LWB Robin Gosens
Atalanta -> Inter Milan
Fee: loan
Atalanta: D
Inter: A-
Yikes, what a disaster for Atalanta. Gosens is one of the best wing-backs in world football, as evidenced by his 17 goal contributions in each of the last two Serie A seasons. He was injured in a September UCL match against Young Boys and Atalanta have been fine without him, but it's still a tough loss. Reports are that Atalanta will only make around $30 million for his sale, which seems cheap for a player of his obvious quality.
The rich get richer. Simone Inzaghi has done a great job at keeping Inter Milan at the top of Serie A and a move for Gosens makes them the clear favourites to lift Serie A in May. Inzaghi has always been excellent with employing wing-backs and Gosens is now clearly Inter's best left-wing-back. Ivan Perisic is not a bad player, but Gosens is a more natural player at the position. A Dumfries-Gosens duo on the flanks is a terrifying proposition to face for any team.
ST Dusan Vlahovic
Fiorentina -> Juventus
Fee: $83 million
Fiorentina: B
Juventus: A
It's hard to fault Fiorentina for this sale, as they got a massive fee for their superstar striker. His sale gives Fiorentina the chance to reinforce the squad with an influx of cash. My only concern with this move is that it's another Fiorentina superstar going to their bitter rivals, Juventus. A frustratingly long list of players have left Fiorentina for il Bianconeri. Roberto Baggio, Giorgio Chiellini, Federico Bernadeschi, Juan Cuadrado and Federico Chiesa have left Fiorentina for greener pastures. It happened again with Vlahovic.
Wow, what a transformative signing for Juventus. We still haven't seen enough of Vlahovic to consider him a surefire superstar, but you don't beat Cristian Ronaldo's record for most Serie A goals in a calendar year by accident. Juventus have been missing a focal point in attack for a while now and Vlahovic gives them an incredible striker to mould their forward line around for years to come.
LW Adama Traore
Wolves -> Barcelona
Fee: loan
Wolves: C+
Barcelona: B+
Built like a tank, Adama Traore's finishing woes have lowered his stock dramatically around Europe, so much so that Wolves were willing to part ways with him on loan. A $35 million option to buy seems about right, but the Wanderers are now putting a lot of pressure on Francisco Trincao and youngster Chiquinho to fill the void on the right. For a team with a good shot at getting into Europe, the move was slightly ill-timed.
La Masia graduate Traore is familiar with the Barca style of play and on loan, he should revamp a stale Barcelona attack. Barcelona have a more talented front three, so maybe Traore will be able to pick up some assists in a playmaking role. Either way, he should terrorize LaLiga defenses with his aggressive runs into the box.
LM Luis Diaz
Porto -> Liverpool
Fee: $50 million
Porto: C+
Liverpool: A-
Man, Porto got cleaned out in January. Diaz, Oliveira and Corona made up a strong spine for Porto's undefeated side. Diaz's loss is easily the most painful, though. At just 25, he had room to grow. He was Porto's best player in the UCL and in the Premier League, with 16 goals and 4 assists in 24 games in all competitions this season. However, $50 million is a lot of cash and Porto should be able to find a replacement.
They've done it again. The Reds swooped in and stole Luis Diaz from Tottenham to give them a future Sadio Mane replacement. Liverpool have always been expected to fall off after the Mane-Firmino-Salah front three aged, but with transfers like Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota, Liverpool may have a world-class forward trio once more. In the present, he'll take some weight off the shoulders of Mane and add a more creative outlet down the left.
CDM Bruno Guimaraes
Lyon -> Newcastle
Fee: $46 million
Lyon: B+
Newcastle: A-
Lyon have doubled what they originally spent on Guimaraes, so it's hard to fault them from a business perspective. From a footballing perspective though, this is a tough loss. Guimaraes was one of Ligue 1's best anchoring midfielders and Lyon will miss his destructive play at the base of their midfield.
An absolute statement signing for Newcastle who have needed some legitimate star power for years. Guimaraes is going to add a dimension to Newcastle's midfield that they haven't possessed in a very long time. Relegation seems unlikely at this point for Newcastle, so taking the flyer on the Brazilian will be worth it in the long run. If anything, it shows that Newcastle now possess a lot of power in the transfer market.
Christian Eriksen (Kyle Bonn, The Sporting News)
CM Christian Eriksen
Free agent -> Brentford
Fee: free
Brentford: A-
I praised Brentford mightily for this Christian Eriksen signing, but I feel that I may have gotten a bit too excited about the news. It is still an incredible coup for the Bees, but we can't forget that our expectations of the Dane must be lower than what we are used to, as he hasn't played a full 90 minutes in over a year. It's still a low-risk, high-reward signing, but the floor for Eriksen is lower than I may have thought at first.
ST Wout Weghorst
Wolfsburg -> Burnley
Fee: $15 million
Wolfsburg: C+
Burnley: B+
Weghorst is a quality player and losing him will be tough for Wolfsburg. They are still not out of the blue yet for relegation, so losing a player like Weghorst for far below his real value could be a mistake in the long run. However, they did a good job of replacing the Dutch striker with young Danish striker Jonas Wind and veteran forward Max Kruse.
Not only did Burnley pick up a really good striker who suits their system well on a bargain contract, but they also flipped a middle finger to relegation rivals Newcastle. The Chris Wood signing was expensive, but it was expected to cripple Burnley's attack. Signing a lethal finisher like Weghorst, who is also great off of set pieces, means that Burnley have a better attack than they did when they entered the window.
CAM Tanguy Ndombele
Tottenham -> Lyon
Fee: loan
Tottenham: C
Lyon: B
A part of Tottenham's weird exodus on Deadline Day, Ndombele's loan was a peculiar move. He has had trouble stringing consistent performances throughout his Spurs career, but on his day, he is one of the most influential midfielders in the world. He can make incisor passes and pull off insane skills. It seems strange to let go of a real difference-maker on loan, especially during a race to the Champions League spots.
Lyon sold the Frenchman to Spurs for $65 million a few years ago and they now have an option to buy him for around $60 million. After losing Guimaraes to Newcastle, the French side needed to beef up their midfield and Ndombele provides that. The buy option seems expensive, so this is probably just a loan, but it might help Peter Bosz's claw some places back in the Ligue 1 table.
CAM Dele Alli
Tottenham -> Everton
Fee: free
Tottenham: C
Everton: B
Let's not forget that Dele Alli had 18 goals and 7 assists as a 20-year old with Tottenham in the Premier League a half decade ago. He is a game-changer at his best, but he simply hasn't been at that level since 2019. It seems early to let him leave on a permanent deal, but the heft add-ons of this deal mean they should be able to make a good profit if Alli flourishes with the Toffees.
A somewhat peculiar move, Everton need an influx of quality in their side and Dele Alli provides that. He is so skilled and he could unlock Richarlison and Dominic Calvert-Lewin to help Everton crawl out of the relegation zone. However, it's equally possible that Dele's recent season struggles are a sign for the future and he could just be a distraction from a legitimate relegation scrap. I'll give Everton a neutral grade, as I need more information before I can really judge this move.
Donny van de Beek (Tony McArdle, Getty Images)
CM Donny van de Beek
Manchester United -> Everton
Fee: loan
Manchester United: C-
Everton: B-
The #FreeDonny campaign has finally paid off. The Dutchman is clearly a talented midfielder (he was on the Ballon D'Or shortlist a few years ago for goodness' sake!), and Manchester United may feel that tutelage under new Everton boss Frank Lampard could help him reach his full potential. However, in a grueling season with a top-4 spot far from guaranteed, some midfield depth would have been helpful.
As I just mentioned, Everton need good players and Donny can be that. I'm not too sure that he is suited for the Premier League or how he can fit in Everton's system, but he should be an upgrade on what Everton is currently getting from their midfield. I think Lampard will help Donny find his way a bit and you can expect van de Beek to play a part if Everton turn their season around.
CM Denis Zakaria
Monchengladbach -> Juventus
Fee: $6 million
M'gladbach: C+
Juventus: A-
Borussia had their hands tied a bit with the Zakaria situation, as he had already notified the board that he would leave on a Bosman in the summer. Thus, logically, it makes sense that they would try to squeeze some cash out and frankly, the amount they got was good for somebody who would have left in 6 months regardless. However, Zakaria was a very important player for Gladbach and relegation can't be ruled out.
What a transfer window for Juventus. Not only did they get Dusan Vlahovic, but they also picked up young Swiss midfielder Denis Zakaria on the cheap. He gives Juventus a legitimate anchor in the middle of the pitch and his pivoting ability with the ball at his feet will help Juventus develop a more progressive style.
CF Dejan Kulusevski
Juventus -> Tottenham
Fee: loan
Juventus: B
Tottenham: B
I still don't know what to make of Swedish wonderkid Dejan Kulusevski. He's been underwhelming for Juventus for the most part, but I still remember his dominant performance against Atalanta in the Coppa Italia final and his super-sub appearance for Sweden in the Euros versus Poland. A loan seems like a smart move for all parties and the way the deal is constructed, Juventus will eventually be able to pay off the massive transfer they made with Parma for his services a couple of years ago.
Kulusevski is a talented player and Tottenham aren't always in on the most talented players, so it's a clever move if you believe in the forward's potential. I'm not sure how much game time Kulusevski will get, as I would pick both Harry Kane and Lucas Moura ahead of him currently, but if manager Antonio Conte can restore Kulusevski's confidence, Spurs could have a proper baller on their hands.
CM Rodrigo Bentancur
Juventus -> Tottenham
Fee: $21 million
Juventus: B
Tottenham: B+
Juve have made a nice profit on Bentancur after his arrival from Boca Juniors in 2022, but it was a fairly average career in Torino for the Argentinian. I can't fault Juventus too much for this sale as they replaced Bentancur with Zakaria for less money. However, I just feel "meh" about the whole transfer saga.
Antonio Conte probably hoped for more during the window, but a defensive-minded midfielder to pair alongside Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg was a priority in January and Bentancur fills that role well. He's not going to break the league wide open, but he's a good upgrade on Harry Winks for a respectable price, so I have to give Spurs a good grade here.
ST Julian Alvarez
River Plate -> Manchester City
Fee: $19 million
River Plate: B-
Man City: A-
Argentinian wonderkid Julian Alvarez has been linked with a move away from River Plate for the last few months. His release clause of just $19 million was a mistake on River's part. By being more vigilant and offering him a new contract, they could have squeeze more money out of Man City for the star striker.
I really like this move for City. Alvarez is a Pep Guardiola player, sitting a bit deeper and playing with a good mix of skill and physical ability. However, he is also perfectly capable of finishing inside the box. I'm curious to see if this affects City's Erling Haaland pursuit in the summer, but either way, Manchester City have done well to get a long-term target who will be a direct replacement for Sergio Aguero.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Francesc Adelantado, Marca)
ST Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Arsenal -> Barcelona
Fee: free
Arsenal: C
Barcelona: B
Auba's disciplinary issues have finally crossed the line and manager Mikel Arteta froze him out of the squad. His sale leaves Arsenal with just two senior strikers, both of whom are on expiring contracts, but from what I've read, he wasn't going to play much football anyway even if he stayed with the Gunners. Getting his wages off the bill will save millions for Arsenal and it allows the board a chance to sign a top striker in the summer. For now, though, it leaves the team vulnerable to injuries up front.
Barcelona were trying to add some talent to their forward corps on the cheap. By signing a lethal striker like Aubameyang for free, they've accomplished that. If he can keep his focus, Auba will be able to boost Arsenal's odds of securing a top-4 spot and making a run in the Europa League. It does put Memphis Depay, their marquee summer signing, in a bit of an awkward position, though.
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