Whether you’re a side scrapping to stay in the division, attempting to push on to the next level, or merely trying to cling on to your stars for a few extra months, the January transfer window can be an uncomfortable time for clubs all across Europe.
Here, Sport360 rounds up all the comings and goings from this January’s window.
ARSENAL
The Gunners only signed one first-team player during the summer transfer window, and Arsene Wenger has again resisted the temptation to splash the cash in this window. Sitting just three points off the top, there is no big name arrival to try and haul the side over the line, though Egyptian Mohamed Elneny offers some depth in midfield. Wenger is keeping faith with the squad that has taken Arsenal this far.
INS
Mohamed Elneny – Basel, Undisclosed Fee
OUTS
Mathieu Debuchy – Bordeaux, Loan
Glen Kamara – Southend, Loan
Yaya Sanogo – Charlton, Loan
ASTON VILLA
Villa are marooned at the bottom of the table, some 10 points from safety, and looking unlikely to avoid relegation. If boss Remi Garde is to pull off an unlikely escape he’ll have to do so with the squad he inherited upon his arrival in November as no new signings have been sanctioned.
INS
None
OUTS
Joe Cole – Coventry City, Free
Philippe Senderos – Grasshoppers, Free
Gary Gardner – Nottingham Forest, Loan
Joe Bennett – Sheffield Wednesday, Loan
Jose Angel Crespo – Rayo Vallecano, Loan
BOURNEMOUTH
Having lost Callum Wilson, their main goal-scoring threat, to a cruciate knee injury in September, Eddie Howe has used this transfer window to bolster his options up front. The arrival of a dependable forward was a must, and the Cherries have spent big on three in the hope that will give them the ammunition to safeguard their place in the league.
INS
Benik Afobe – Wolves, £9.3m (Dh48.6m)
Lewis Grabban – Norwich, £7m (Dh36.6m)
Rhoys Wiggins – Sheffield Wednesday, Undisclosed Fee
Juan Iturbe – Roma, Loan
OUTS
Yann Kermorgant – Reading, Undisclosed Fee
Elliott Ward – Blackburn, Free
Jayden Stockley – Exeter City, Loan
CHELSEA
Jose Mourinho didn’t land the targets he wanted in the summer window, and Chelsea haven’t splashed the cash for interim head coach Guus Hiddink in January either. The Dutchman will have to improve Chelsea’s fortunes in the second half of the season by motivating the squad that stagnated under Mourinho, rather than injecting it with new blood.
INS
Alexandre Pato – Corinthinas, Loan
Matt Miazga – New York Red Bulls, £3.5m (Dh18.3m)
OUTS
Ramires – Jiangsu Suning, £25m (Dh130.8m)
Papy Djilobodji – Werder Bremen, Loan
Patrick Bamford – Norwich City, Loan
Marco Van Ginkel – PSV, Loan
Charly Musonda – Real Betis, Loan
Christian Atsu – Chelsea, Loan
Alex Kiwomya – Fleetwood Town, Loan
CRYSTAL PALACE
Having struggled to find a consistent goal scorer to lead the line this term, Alan Pardew has rolled the dice and taken a punt on Emmanuel Adebayor. The 31-year-old arrives on a six-month deal and Palace can take heart from the fact that it is usually in the early stages of his contracts that he tends to make the most impact.
INS
Emmanuel Adebayor – Unattached, Free
Randall Williams – Towers Hamlets, Undisclosed Fee
OUTS
Jack Hunt – Sheffield Wednesday, Undisclosed Fee
Jonny Williams – MK Dons, Loan
Patrick Bamford – Chelsea, Loan Cancelled
EVERTON
Retaining the services of the likes of John Stones and Romelu Lukaku was probably Roberto Martinez’s priority this window and he has managed to do just that. The Toffees have brought in some cover for Lukaku up front, recycling the money raised through moving on some fringe players.
INS
Oumar Niasse – Lokomotiv Moscow, £13.5m (Dh70.8)
Shani Tarashaj – Grasshoppers, £3m (Dh15.7m)
Matthew Foulds – Bury, Undisclosed Fee
OUTS
Steven Naismith – Everton, £8.5m (Dh44.5m)
Aiden McGeady – Sheffield Wednesday, Loan
Shani Tarashaj – Grasshoppers, Loan
Conor McAleny – Wigan Athletic, Loan
LEICESTER CITY
The Premier League’s shock leaders are largely keeping the faith with the squad that has seen them take the division by storm this term; the addition of a couple of young tyros won’t destabilise this group and offers a bit of additional depth, while ensuring there have been no been frontline departures is an achievement in itself.
INS
Daniel Amartey – FC Copenhagen, £5m (Dh26.1m)
Demari Gray – Birmingham City, £3.7m (Dh19.4m)
OUTS
Joe Davis – Fleetwood Town, Undisclosed Fee
Jak McCourt – Barnsley, Undisclosed Fee
Andrej Kramaric – Hoffenheim, Loan
Yohan Benalouane – Fiorentina, Loan
Richie De Laet – Middlesbrough – Loan
Tom Lawrence – Cardiff City, Loan
LIVERPOOL
Despite being linked with a number of big-money moves, Anfield’s infamous transfer committee remained largely inactive during this window. The arrival of Steven Caulker, on loan, to cover a litany of defensive injuries was the only first-team signing, with Croatian starlet Marko Grujic arriving only to immediately return to Red Star on loan.
INS
Marko Grujic – Red Star Belgrade, £5.1m (Dh26.7m)
Steven Caulker – QPR, Loan
OUTS
Marko Grujic – Red Star Belgrade, Loan
Ryan Fulton – Portsmouth, Loan
MANCHESTER CITY
Three points off the top of the table despite an underwhelming first half of the season, Manuel Pelligrini must now try and claim the Premier League crown without any notable additions to his squad. Keeping Sergio Aguero fit, and recuperating Vincent Kompany will be central to the Citizens’ hopes of ending the season as champions.
INS
Anthony Caceres – Gold Coast Mariners, £150k (Dh785,000)
Shay Facey – New York City FC, Undisclosed Fee
George Evans – Reading, Undisclosed Fee
OUTS
Shay Facey – Rotherham, Loan
Enes Unal – NAC Breda, Loan
Bruno Zuculini – AEK Athens, Loan
Patrick Roberts – Celtic, Loan
MANCHESTER UNITED
Despite being drastically under-resourced in some positions, Manchester United have chosen not to recruit any new bodies as Louis Van Gaal tries to make up the five-point gap to the top 4.
INS
None
OUTS
Ben Pearson – Preston North End, Undisclosed Fee
Ashley Fletcher – Barnsley, Loan
Victor Valdes – Standard Liege, Loan
Nick Powell – Hull City, Loan
NEWCASTLE UNITED
The biggest movers of the January transfer window, Mike Ashley has finally let the purse strings loose in the North East. Newcastle’s transfer activity in this window has seen them outspend the ENITRE Bundesliga.
INS
Jonjo Shelvey – Swansea, £12m (Dh62.8m)
Andros Townsend – Tottenham Hotspur – £12m, (Dh62.8m)
Henri Saivet – Bordeaux, £5m, (Dh26.2m)
Seydou Doumbia – Roma, Loan
OUTS
Shane Ferguson – Millwall, Undisclosed Fee
Mike Williamson – Wolves, Undisclosed Fee
Florian Thauvin – Marseille, Loan
Kyle Cameron – York City, Loan
NORWICH CITY
Alex Neil has looked to strengthen in every department as the Canaries try to avoid a quick return to the Championship. Currently two points clear of the drop zone, the Scot will be hoping his new players can gel quickly in the fight for survival.
INS
Steven Naismith – Everton, £8.5m (Dh44.5m)
Timm Klose – Wolfsburg, £7.6m (Dh39.8m)
Matt Jarvis – West Ham, £2.5m (Dh13.1m)
Ivo Pinto – Dinamo Zagreb, Undisclosed Fee
Ben Godfrey – York City, Undisclosed Fee
Ebou Adam – Dartford, Undisclosed Fee
OUTS
Lewis Grabban – Bournemouth, £ 7m (Dh36.6m)
Gary Hooper – Sheffield Wednesday, Undisclosed Fee
Elliott Bennett – Blackburn, Undisclosed Fee
Jamar Loza – Southend, Loan
Harry Toffolo – Peterborough, Loan
SOUTHAMPTON
The Saints pulled off one of the deals of the window by landing Charlie Austin from Championship side QPR. Austin is a deadly finisher, who could well go down as one of the all time great January purchases. Plenty of sides have looked at the 26-year-old over the past eight months without taking the plunge, so he’s a man with a point to prove.
INS
Charlie Austin – QPR, £4m (20.9m)
OUTS
Gaston Ramirez – Middleborough, Loan
Sam McQueen – Southend,Loan
Jack Stephens – Coventry City, Loan
Steven Caulker – QPR, Loan Cancelled
STOKE CITY
Mark Hughes is doing a great job changing the old Stoke stereotype, by filling his team with fast, lithe and technically gifted midfielders and forwards. He has now added a club record signing in Gianelli Imbula to the squad this month, the defensive midfielder will bring steal to the Potteries. This is a team moving in the right direction.
INS
Giannelli Imbula – Porto, £18.3m (Dh96.8m)
OUTS
Steve Sidwell – Brighton, Loan
Marco Van Ginkel – Chelsea, Loan Cancelled
SUNDERLAND
No team has conceded more goals this season, and only Aston Villa have a worse goal difference than the Black Cats. As a result, Sunderland have brought in reinforcements at both ends of the pitch as they bid for a late-season relegation escape yet again.
INS
Wahbi Khazri – Bordeaux, £9m (47.1m)
Lamine Kone – Lorient, £5m (26.2m)
Jan Kirchhoff – Bayern Munich, Undisclosed Fee
Steve Harper – Unattached – Free
Dame N’Doye – Trabzonspor, Loan
OUTS
Costel Pantilimon – Watford, Undisclosed Fee
Steven Fletcher – Marseille – Loan
Sebastian Coates – Sporting Lisbon, Loan
Charis Mavrias – Fortuna Dusseldorf, Loan
Danny Graham – Blackburn, Loan
Will Buckley – Birmingham City, Loan
Jordi Gomes – Blackburn Rovers, Loan
SWANSEA CITY
Swansea are very much involved in a relegation scrap and only Aston Villa have hit the net fewer times this term. The Swans have sought to overcome this lack of goals by bringing in a striker who averaged a goal every 3.5 games in Serie A.
INS
Alberto Paloschi – Chievo, Undisclosed Fee
Ryan Blair – Falkirk, Undisclosed Fee
Leroy Fer – QPR, Loan
OUTS
Jonjo Shelvey – Newcastle, £12m (Dh62.8m)
Gerhard Tremmel – Werder Bremen, Loan
Franck Tabanou – St. Etienne, Loan
Eder – Lille, Loan
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
Only Leicester have lost fewer than Spurs’ three games this season, but it’s the nine draws that have held Tottenham’s title challenge back. Lacking a dependable alternative to Harry Kane, Spurs were eyeing up striking reinforcements during the window, but no deals came to fruition, with a bid for Fulham’s Moussa Dembele falling through.
INS
Shilow Tracey – Ebbsfleet Town, Undisclosed Fee
OUTS
Andros Townsend – Tottenham Hotspur – £12m (Dh62.8m)
Shaquile Coulthirst – Peterborough, Undisclosed Fee
Milos Veljkovic – Weder Bremen, Undisclosed Fee
Alex Pritchard – West Brom, Loan
Federico Fazio – Sevilla, Loan
Grant Ward – Rotherham United, Loan
WATFORD
Watford saw 16 new players arrive over the summer as new manager Quique Sanchez Flores prepared the squad for a first Premier League campaign since 2008. The Hornets have surprised everyone this season and comfortably sit mid table. They have again dipped into the transfer market to add to their squad in January.
INS
Nordin Amrabat – Malaga, £6m (Dh31.4m)
Mario Suarez – Fiorentina, Undisclosed Fee
Costel Pantilimon – Sunderland, Undisclosed Fee
Abdoulaye Doucoure – Rennes, Undisclosed Fee
Adalberto Penaranda – Granada, Undisclosed Fee
Diego Fabbrini – Birmingham City, £1.5m (Dh7.8m)
Giedrius Arlauskis – Espanyol, Loan
Alessandro Diamanti – Guangzhou Evergrande, Loan Cancelled
WEST BROM
Like most mid-table sides, keeping hold of their biggest assets is always a triumph of sorts for West Brom, who for a second straight window have warded off interest in Saido Berahino. The arrival of Sandro on loan won’t get pulses racing too much, but does add depth in the middle of the park.
INS
Sandro – QPR, Loan
Alex Pritchard – Tottenham, Loan
OUTS
Anders Lindegaard – Preston, Loan
Adil Nabi – Peterbrough, Undisclosed Fee
WEST HAM
Slaven Bilic’s men are still chasing European football, and while they haven’t added much to their squad, their signings have been shrewd. Sam Byram’s versatility on the right-hand side is a boost, while the addition of another forward is crucial, given the bad luck the Hammers have had with injuries in that department this season.
INS
Sam Byram – Leeds Untied, Undisclosed Fee
Emmanuel Emenike – Fenerbahce, Loan
OUTS
Matt Jarvis – West Ham, £2.5m (Dh13.1m)
Mauro Zarate – Fiorentina, £1.6m (Dh8.4m)
Morgan Amalfitano – Lille – Free
Kyle Knoyle – Dundee United, Loan
Diego Poyet – Charlton – Loan