Transfer news: The most expensive January transfers of all time
Enormous transfer fees, panic buys and even the odd bargain – yes, it’s nearly the January transfer window once again, and Transfer News Blitz has begun its official countdown.
Most clubs are reluctant to spend big mid-season, but that doesn’t stop the usual suspects from keeping the cash flowing.
From Chelsea to Barcelona, the Premier League to the Serie A, here, Transfer News Blitz’s writer Edward Moss looks at the 10 most expensive January transfers of all time.
10. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Borussia Dortmund to Arsenal, £53million
Arsenal thought they had struck gold when they signed Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from Borussia Dortmund in 2018, who was one of the hottest strikers in world football at the time.
The Gabonese forward scored 141 times in 213 appearances for the Bundesliga side and certainly did not disappoint in North London… at least not at first.
Aubameyang scored 92 goals for the Gunners across five seasons, winning an FA Cup and Community Shield, and he was even given the captain’s armband.
However, under Mikel Arteta, disciplinary issues and poor performances meant he was stripped of the captaincy and quickly pushed out the door to Barcelona on a free transfer in 2022.
9. Christian Pulisic, Borussia Dortmund to Chelsea, £53million
Christian Pulisic joined the Blues in January 2019, however, returned to Borussia Dortmund on loan for the rest of that season.
Maybe he got a big move too early on in his career, with the American’s stint at Chelsea stalling before his exit in July 2023.
The now 26-year-old managed a respectable 26 goals and 19 assists in Chelsea colours though, and won the Champions League, Super Cup and Club World Cup whilst at Stamford Bridge.
The winger now plays his football for Italian giants AC Milan, where he has become an integral part of the squad.
8. Bruno Fernandes, Sporting to Man Utd, £54millon
Love him or hate him, Bruno Fernandes is a fantastic player, enough so that Manchester United broke the bank to bring him to Old Trafford in 2020.
The Portuguese midfielder has gone on to become somewhat of a cult hero at United, making 257 appearances, scoring 85 goals and contributing a further 76 assists.
The United captain has an FA Cup and EFL Cup to show for his efforts at Man Utd, despite currently playing under his sixth manager at Old Trafford…
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7. Aymeric Laporte, Athletic Club to Man City, £54million
In the same season that saw Manchester City buy the likes of Kyle Walker, Bernardo Silva and Ederson, who have all become ever-presents at the Etihad, Pep Guardiola also brought in Aymeric Laporte in January.
The Spaniard went on to play 180 times for City across six years, which is a decent return to say the centre-half struggled with injuries during his time in the Premier League, missing a total of 80 matches for club and country.
You can’t say that Laporte was not a success in Manchester when you look at what he won – six Premier Leagues, two FA Cups, four EFL Cups, two Community Shields and a Super Cup.
That’s not to mention he was part of the City squad that won the treble in 2023.
6. Gonçalo Ramos, Benfica to PSG, £54million
Joining Paris Saint-Germain in January 2023, Gonçalo Ramos had a good start in the French capital, scoring 11 Ligue 1 goals as Kylian Mbappe’s understudy.
However, an ankle injury in August has meant he has been restricted to just six appearances this season, scoring two goals and contributing with a further two assists.
The 23-year-old still has bags of time to be a success in Paris, and if he can reach the same form as he did when he first joined the club, there is no doubt that he will be.
The Parisian’s current form in the Champions League is less than great though, so the Portuguese striker might want to hurry up.
5. Mykhaylo Mudryk, Shakhtar Donetsk to Chelsea, £58million
Mykhaylo Mudryk was arguably the most wanted man in the 2023 January transfer window, with Arsenal and Chelsea both battling it out for the Ukrainian’s signature.
In the end, the Gunners moved for a cheaper target, Leandro Trossard, whilst the Blues paid a huge fee for a largely unproven and raw talent.
10 goals and nine assists in 73 matches probably isn’t the return the Chelsea hierarchy was hoping for from such an expensive signing, but the 23-year-old still has time to make his mark in West London.
4. Dusan Vlahovic, Fiorentina to Juventus, £67.5million
Serie A club Juventus shelled out the big bucks in 2022 to bring Dusan Vlahovic in from fellow league side Fiorentina.
The Italian giants fended off interest from sides in the Premier League and La Liga to get their man – although reports suggest that Manchester United and Arsenal are both interested in the forward this January.
Whilst the 24-year-old has not hit the goalscoring numbers expected of him, a return of 52 goals in 120 appearances is a decent return to say he has been playing in a lacklustre Juventus side.
We could soon see Vlahovic in the Premier League, although an even bigger fee than the one the Old Lady paid would be needed to make that happen.
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3. Virgil van Dijk, Southampton to Liverpool, £70million
Without a shadow of a doubt, Virgil van Dijk is the best-ever January transfer by a country mile.
The six-foot-four-inch centre-back transformed Liverpool from a club on the outside of the top four to one of the most dominant forces in European football.
The Dutchman’s trophy cabinet talks for itself, winning practically every trophy available to him with the Reds.
Looking at the effect he has had on the Merseyside club, you could easily consider £70million a bargain… although with the current state of Southampton’s defence, I’m sure they’re kicking themselves for letting him go.
2. Enzo Fernández, Benfica to Chelsea, £100million
Chelsea signed Enzo Fernández from Benfica in January 2023 for an astronomical £100million.
It’s safe to say that after the first 18 months of his Chelsea career, the Argentinian was considered a complete flop, especially looking at the money the Blues spent on him.
However, under Enzo Maresca this season, the 23-year-old has been transformed into arguably one of the Premier League’s best midfielders.
Three goals and eight assists in a great return from 20 appearances, not to mention his overall performances away from the stats.
Fernández has justified that £100milliom price tag this season, whether he can keep that up is yet to be seen.
1. Philippe Coutinho, Liverpool to Barcelona, £112million
Philippe Coutinho, debatably the unluckiest man on this list, left Liverpool for Barcelona to win the Champions League, only for the Reds to win it the season after he left.
Of course, the Brazilian did win the Champions League eventually… whilst on loan at Bayern Munich from Barcelona, where he scored twice off the bench in the quarter-finals as the Bavarians humiliated the Catalonians 8-2.
Coutinho struggled to stay fit and find his best form in Spain, which was a shame because, on paper, the move looked to be an excellent one for the midfielder.
In the end, the now 32-year-old eventually moved on to play for Aston Villa, initially on loan but eventually permanently.
The ex-Liverpool man now plays in Brazil for Série A side Vasco da Gama, where he started his career.
Follow all the latest January window rumours and deals with Transfer News Blitz, and follow us on BlueSky as we continue to tell it like it is when it comes to transfer talk.
