The January transfer window is rarely the time for big transfers to be made, but rather for emergency solutions when a team’s squad has proven to be thin.
That doesn’t mean there’s a shortage of interesting moves, though.
With the window now wrapped up for most leagues, it’s time to have a look at some of the most intriguing moves.
This January transfer window recruitment analysis article aims to identify those with the help of data.
Most of these January transfers have a good chance of a positive outcome, but there are also a few for which it’s reasonable to be sceptical.
Ademola Lookman January Transfer From Atalanta To Atlético Madrid
At €35m, Ademola Lookman’s January transfer from Atalanta to Atlético Madrid was among the more expensive.
However, the Spanish team knew what they were doing, as they had some solid basis on which to pay up for the 28-year-old Nigerian international.
Ademola Lookman Pizza Chart 2025/2026
His numbers at Atalanta have been impressive for several years now, as 55 goals and 27 assists over 3.5 seasons imply.
The pizza chart above is from the current season, and it typically resembles this when Lookman plays football.
He’s an elite goal threat, a good creator, and a good dribbler.
Diego Simeone’s team will most likely improve with his arrival, and he has already started to prove it.
In Atlético’s Copa del Rey progress to the semi-finals the other day, the attacker both scored and assisted in the 5-0 victory against Real Betis.
Rayan January Transfer From Vasco Da Gama To AFC Bournemouth
Another intriguing signing, which isn’t a top player yet but has the tools to become one, is Rayan’s move from Brazilian Vasco da Gama to Bournemouth.
The 19-year-old winger enjoyed a brilliant season in Brazil in 2025, scoring 22 goals and adding one assist across all competitions, which earned him a move to the Premier League.
Rayan Pizza Chart 2025
His numbers from last season encapsulate him well; he’s someone who loves to pull the trigger from all angles.
Rayan needs to improve other aspects of his game to turn his potential into elite quality, but the young attacker has the physical tools to do it, and the Bournemouth environment should be a good one to come to.
Sani Suleman January Transfer From Trenćín To RB Leipzig
The third signing we’re bringing up is a bit more under-the-radar, but the 19-year-old Nigerian Sani Suleman’s performances in the Slovakian team Trenćín made several clubs from top leagues interested.
In the end, RB Leipzig won the race, and it’s not difficult to understand why they felt the need to add this entertaining dribbler to their payroll.
Sani Suleman Pizza Chart 2025/2026
These are the numbers of a winger who clearly has the tools to play in a top league.
His dribbling ability is exceptional, and he creates chances at an exceptionally high rate.
On top of that, he’s an active defender who runs his socks off.
The clear area of improvement is the goal threat numbers, but when the rest of the qualities look good enough, it’s not even the slightest of worries.
RB Leipzig bet on this guy from a significantly worse league with a long contract (five years), but when the fee is quite modest (€5m), and his qualities are as exciting as they are, it’s a risk worth taking.
Jérémy Jacquet January Transfer From Rennes To Liverpool
The next player on the list is Jérémy Jacquet.
The 20-year-old centre-back prospect has long been discussed, and Liverpool finally acquired his services by paying Rennes €63.5m up front, with additional payments contingent on the satisfaction of add-ons.
The young Frenchman won’t join the Reds until the beginning of next season, but it doesn’t change the fact that it was one of this winter’s biggest transfers.
Jérémy Jacquet Pizza Chart 2025/2026
His defensive side of the game is what makes him a stand-out, and at 1.90 metres, he’s physically imposing as well.
He isn’t bad on the ball by any means, and the feeling is that he’ll develop that side of the game at Anfield.
Yanis Massolin January Transfer From Modena To Inter Milan
Let’s turn our attention to Italy for a moment, where a true unicorn of a player has made the move from Serie B and Modena to Serie A and Inter.
Yanis Massolin is the name, and at 1.97 metres, he isn’t your average attacking midfielder.
However, make no mistake, the Frenchman’s tall frame doesn’t make him technically limited or immobile.
Instead, he’s a great ball-carrier and dribbler and an outstanding chance-creator.
Yanis Massolin Pizza Chart 2025/2026
His debut at Inter has to wait, however, since he’s loaned back to Modena for the remainder of the 2025/2026 season.
Tammy Abraham January Transfer From Beşiktaş To Aston Villa
Tammy Abraham is a well-known name for most people who have followed the Premier League.
It has been four years since he last played in his home country, but now the striker is back.
Abraham played for Beşiktaş before Aston Villa paid €21m for his services.
In Turkey, he has retained the qualities that made him a dangerous attacker for Chelsea and Aston Villa in 2018/2019.
Tammy Abraham Pizza Chart 2025/2026
He’s a big goal-threat who’s outstanding when it comes to finding shots from good locations.
He’s also more than just that, given his high number of expected assists.
All in all, he’s a well-rounded player who has performed decently in recent seasons.
Sure, he’s not a guaranteed success, but the feeling is that he’ll come in and be a good addition for Aston Villa at a reasonable price.
Alex Tóth January Transfer From Ferencváros To AFC Bournemouth
The Hungarian league isn’t the most well-covered one, but it doesn’t stop it from producing good players.
One of them is Alex Tóth, whose performances for Ferencváros made Bournemouth pay €12m to get him right away.
Alex Tóth Pizza Chart 2025/2026
If you produce these numbers at 20 years of age, you will attract interest.
His ball-carrying skills are a potentially elite trait if they translate well to the top level, and he’s also a good creator.
Defensively, the Hungarian talent is still a question mark, but given his specific qualities in possession, he might cut it at the Premier League level with time.
Jørgen Strand Larsen January Transfer From Wolverhampton Wanderers To Crystal Palace
Let’s conclude on a negative note, with a few transfers that make us raise our eyebrows.
One of those moves is Jørgen Strand Larsen from Wolverhampton Wanderers to Crystal Palace.
The 26-year-old Norwegian is coming from a bad season with one goal in 22 Premier League appearances, and his underlying numbers are just as bad.
Jørgen Strand Larsen Pizza Chart 2025/2026
He barely shoots, barely touches the ball in the box, and doesn’t do much at all.
He might be decent aerially still and theoretically a great threat in-behind, but that’s just wishing at this point.
His numbers last season were slightly better (without being good), but the last six months should scare most suitors off.
There is always the argument that Wolves are a bad team and no one would perform in those circumstances, but good strikers usually come up better than this.
For Crystal Palace, to pay €50m to acquire him is way too much.
Brennan Johnson January Transfer From Tottenham Hotspur To Crystal Palace
Another signing it’s fair to be concerned about is another one of Crystal Palace’s.
The South London club decided to pay €40m for Brennan Johnson‘s services, and given the Welshman’s production over the last few months, it’s not a fee I’d be comfortable with.
Brennan Johnson Pizza Chart 2025/2026
He has been among the least productive attacking players in the Premier League since the summer, in various respects.
Palace are gambling on him regaining his form from previous seasons, but for a player with his skill set and trend, I’d be very cautious about investing heavily in him.
Crystal Palace’s decision-makers were clearly not agreeing, but I’d be surprised if Johnson proves to be worth the money.
Conclusion
The January transfer window isn’t as hectic nowadays as it used to be, and it shows in the amount of transfers being made, but even more so when looking at the sums being spent on players.
Big fee transfers are for the summer.
January is for smaller fixes.
That’s also what we’ve seen this year, with fewer potential flops due to a shortage of big-money moves.
The stakes are lower, but so are the potential financial losses.
Clubs are working smarter, and many of the acquisitions clubs have made it feel logical.
The future will reveal if the nine signings in this piece pan out as we predicted, but it’s telling that seven of them were put in a positive light and only two on the opposite side of the spectrum.
