The most expensive January transfers of all-time - Van Dijk 3rd, Semenyo 7th & Mudryk 9th
The January transfer window is now open. Clubs across the market are actively trying to improve their squads with new arrivals but it’s notoriously difficult to seal major deals in January compared to the summer market. Financial Fair Play (FFP) and the Premier League's profit and sustainability restrictions are limiting several Premier League clubs’ ability to spend in January and many will need to offload players before reinvesting.
It's been a really quiet January window so far with Manchester City's €75m acquisition of Antoine Semenyo the biggest deal of the window. Semenyo's move to Pep Guardiola's side ranks amongst the top ten January deals in history but where does it land? So let's find out!
Top 10 most expensive January transfers in history
Philippe Coutinho moved from Liverpool to Barcelona for €135m in January 2018 and it remains the January transfer record. After Neymar joined PSG in the previous summer, Barcelona had money to spend on a replacement, but Coutinho’s move never quite worked out. The Brazilian scored 25 goals and provided 14 assists in 106 appearances for the Spanish giants before departing permanently for €20m to Aston Villa in 2022. As the graphic below illustrates, Enzo Fernández's €121m move to Chelsea ranks second with Benfica banking an eye-watering fee.
Liverpool's acquisition of Virgil van Dijk for €84.7m is unquestionably the most successful on the top ten list. The Netherlands international was integral to Liverpool winning the Premier League twice and the Champions League. Dušan Vlahović and John Duran complete the top five but both striker's failed to hit the heights after their moves. Semenyo's move to Man City is the only deal from this January to feature.
- Date of birth/Age:
- 12/06/1992 (33)
-
Nat.:
- Current club:
- Without Club
- Contract until:
- -
- Position:
- Attacking Midfield
- Market Value:
- €3.50m
- Date of birth/Age:
- 17/01/2001 (25)
-
Nat.:
- Current club:
- Chelsea FC
- Contract until:
- 30/06/2032
- Position:
- Central Midfield
- Market Value:
- €90.00m
- Date of birth/Age:
- 08/07/1991 (34)
-
Nat.:
- Current club:
- Liverpool FC
- Contract until:
- 30/06/2027
- Position:
- Centre-Back
- Market Value:
- €18.00m
- Date of birth/Age:
- 28/01/2000 (26)
-
Nat.:
- Current club:
- Juventus FC
- Contract until:
- 30/06/2026
- Position:
- Centre-Forward
- Market Value:
- €35.00m
- Date of birth/Age:
- 05/01/2001 (25)
-
Nat.:
- Current club:
- Chelsea FC
- Contract until:
- 30/06/2031
- Position:
- Left Winger
- Market Value:
- -
- Date of birth/Age:
- 27/05/1994 (31)
-
Nat.:
- Current club:
- Athletic Bilbao
- Contract until:
- 30/06/2028
- Position:
- Centre-Back
- Market Value:
- €9.00m
- Date of birth/Age:
- 08/09/1994 (31)
-
Nat.:
- Current club:
- Manchester United
- Contract until:
- 30/06/2027
- Position:
- Attacking Midfield
- Market Value:
- €40.00m
- Date of birth/Age:
- 18/06/1989 (36)
-
Nat.:
- Current club:
- Olympique Marseille
- Contract until:
- 30/06/2027
- Position:
- Centre-Forward
- Market Value:
- €3.00m
- Date of birth/Age:
- 07/10/1988 (37)
-
Nat.:
- Current club:
- Retired
- Contract until:
- -
- Position:
- Centre-Forward
- Market Value:
- -
- Date of birth/Age:
- 16/03/1996 (30)
-
Nat.:
- Current club:
- Al-Ahli SFC
- Contract until:
- 30/06/2028
- Position:
- Centre-Forward
- Market Value:
- €20.00m
- Date of birth/Age:
- 16/08/2001 (24)
-
Nat.:
- Current club:
- Aston Villa
- Contract until:
- 30/06/2029
- Position:
- Defensive Midfield
- Market Value:
- €45.00m
- Date of birth/Age:
- 02/11/2001 (24)
-
Nat.:
- Current club:
- Chelsea FC
- Contract until:
- 30/06/2031
- Position:
- Defensive Midfield
- Market Value:
- €110.00m
- Date of birth/Age:
- 20/06/2001 (24)
-
Nat.:
- Current club:
- Paris Saint-Germain
- Contract until:
- 30/06/2028
- Position:
- Centre-Forward
- Market Value:
- €35.00m
- Date of birth/Age:
- 07/01/2000 (26)
-
Nat.:
- Current club:
- Manchester City
- Contract until:
- 30/06/2031
- Position:
- Right Winger
- Market Value:
- €75.00m
- Date of birth/Age:
- 13/12/2003 (22)
-
Nat.:
- Current club:
- Zenit St. Petersburg
- Contract until:
- 30/06/2026
- Position:
- Centre-Forward
- Market Value:
- €25.00m
- Date of Birth/Age:
- 16/06/1967 (58)
-
Nat.:
- Current club:
- RB Leipzig
- Current Position:
- Global Sports Director
- Contract until:
- 31/12/2029
- In charge since:
- Jan 1, 2025
- Date of Birth/Age:
- 26/03/1982 (44)
-
Nat.:
- Current club:
- Arsenal FC
- Current Position:
- Manager
- Contract until:
- 30/06/2027
- In charge since:
- Dec 22, 2019
- Date of Birth/Age:
- 31/12/1941 (84)
-
Nat.:
- Current club:
- Retired
- Current Position:
- Manager
- Date of Birth/Age:
- 18/01/1971 (55)
-
Nat.:
- Current club:
- Manchester City
- Current Position:
- Manager
- Contract until:
- 30/06/2027
- In charge since:
- Jul 1, 2016
- Date of Birth/Age:
- 11/08/1967 (58)
-
Nat.:
- Current club:
- AC Milan
- Current Position:
- Manager
- Contract until:
- 30/06/2027
- In charge since:
- Jul 1, 2025
- Date of Birth/Age:
- 31/07/1969 (56)
-
Nat.:
- Current club:
- SSC Napoli
- Current Position:
- Manager
- Contract until:
- 30/06/2027
- In charge since:
- Jul 1, 2024
- Total Market Value:
- €1.02bn
- Competition:
- Premier League
- Position:
- 5.
- Manager:
- Arne Slot
- Squad size:
- 28
- Latest transfer:
- Alexander Isak
- Total Market Value:
- €1.16bn
- Competition:
- Premier League
- Position:
- 6.
- Manager:
- Liam Rosenior
- Squad size:
- 30
- Latest transfer:
- Teddy Sharman-Lowe
- Total Market Value:
- €1.23bn
- Competition:
- Premier League
- Position:
- 1.
- Manager:
- Mikel Arteta
- Squad size:
- 24
- Latest transfer:
- Piero Hincapié
- Total Market Value:
- €750.15m
- Competition:
- Premier League
- Position:
- 3.
- Manager:
- Michael Carrick
- Squad size:
- 25
- Latest transfer:
- Senne Lammens
- Total Market Value:
- €470.40m
- Competition:
- Premier League
- Position:
- 7.
- Manager:
- Keith Andrews
- Squad size:
- 26
- Latest transfer:
- Kaye Furo
- Total Market Value:
- €450.45m
- Competition:
- Premier League
- Position:
- 8.
- Manager:
- David Moyes
- Squad size:
- 25
- Latest transfer:
- Tyrique George
- Total Market Value:
- €1.17bn
- Competition:
- LaLiga
- Position:
- 1.
- Manager:
- Hansi Flick
- Squad size:
- 24
- Latest transfer:
- João Cancelo
- Total Market Value:
- €547.50m
- Competition:
- Premier League
- Position:
- 4.
- Manager:
- Unai Emery
- Squad size:
- 25
- Latest transfer:
- Douglas Luiz
- Total Market Value:
- €364.50m
- Competition:
- Liga Portugal
- Position:
- 3.
- Manager:
- José Mourinho
- Squad size:
- 28
- Latest transfer:
- Anísio Cabral
- Total Market Value:
- €157.60m
- Competition:
- Championship
- Position:
- 7.
- Manager:
- Tonda Eckert
- Squad size:
- 27
- Latest transfer:
- Jamie Jones
- Total Market Value:
- €243.85m
- Competition:
- Serie A
- Position:
- 15.
- Manager:
- Paolo Vanoli
- Squad size:
- 27
- Latest transfer:
- Daniele Rugani
- Total Market Value:
- €168.40m
- Competition:
- Premier Liga
- Position:
- 2.
- Manager:
- Arda Turan
- Squad size:
- 34
- Latest transfer:
- Prosper Obah
- Total Market Value:
- €135.40m
- Competition:
- Saudi Pro League
- Position:
- 1.
- Manager:
- Jorge Jesus
- Squad size:
- 28
- Latest transfer:
- Abdullah Al-Hamdan
- Total Market Value:
- €587.00m
- Competition:
- LaLiga
- Position:
- 4.
- Manager:
- Diego Simeone
- Squad size:
- 23
- Latest transfer:
- Rodrigo Mendoza
- Total Market Value:
- €283.00m
- Competition:
- LaLiga
- Position:
- 10.
- Manager:
- Ernesto Valverde
- Squad size:
- 28
- Latest transfer:
- Selton Sánchez
- Total Market Value:
- €483.50m
- Competition:
- Serie A
- Position:
- 2.
- Manager:
- Massimiliano Allegri
- Squad size:
- 23
- Latest transfer:
- Alphadjo Cissè
- Total Market Value:
- €498.40m
- Competition:
- Bundesliga
- Position:
- 2.
- Manager:
- Niko Kovac
- Squad size:
- 26
- Latest transfer:
- Luca Reggiani
- Total Market Value:
- €1.31bn
- Competition:
- Premier League
- Position:
- 2.
- Manager:
- Pep Guardiola
- Squad size:
- 27
- Latest transfer:
- Marc Guéhi
