The January window settled into a narrative of concentrated spending and late-market drama. English clubs combined to outspend the rest of the continent, their £390 million ($530 million) outlay dwarfing other top divisions. Meanwhile the Saudi market and Brazil’s strengthened finances injected headline moves.

Lazio were unusually active despite a prior transfer ban. The Romans replaced Taty Castellanos and Mattéo Guendouzi, who moved to West Ham United and Fenerbahçe respectively, by signing Ajax’s Kenneth Taylor for just shy of €17 million ($32 million) and adding young centre forward Petar Rakov. The fees recouped left Lazio with a net spend of -€23 million (-$27 million).

Fenerbahçe’s window pivoted around Guendouzi (€28 million) and the late acquisition of N’Golo Kanté on a free after his return from Saudi Arabia. The club banked on established midfield reinvention to challenge Galatasaray at the top.

Bournemouth again invested in youth, paying €28.5 million ($33.7 million) for Vasco de Gama prospect Rayan and also signing Golden Boy nominee Alex Tóth. Tottenham’s January activity saw Conor Gallagher arrive alongside Brazilian left back João Souza, though many supporters felt more reinforcements were needed. Sporting director Johan Lange asserted after the window that it was important the club remained disciplined amid potential temptations.

West Ham strengthened early, paying a combined €52 million ($61 million) for Castellanos and Gil Vicente’s Pablo to reshape their attack. They also added Adama Traoré for a small fee and brought in Axel Disasi on loan from Chelsea.

Atlético Madrid spent late, bringing in Ademola Lookman from Atalanta for €35 million ($41 million) and signing Elche prospect Rodrigo Mendoza as a potential long-term addition after Giacomo Raspadori’s exit.

Flamengo flexed improved finances following a strong Club World Cup showing, reporting club-record revenue of €249 million ($294 million) for the first three quarters of 2025 and setting a Brazilian transfer record by paying €41 million ($48 million) to re-sign Lucas Paquetá from West Ham.

In Saudi Arabia Karim Benzema’s move from Al Ittihad to Al Hilal coincided with Al Hilal leading Al Nassr in the title race. Cristiano Ronaldo’s fallout is believed linked to that switch; Ronaldo has gone on strike while Benzema scored a hat-trick on debut. Al Hilal also extended Rúben Neves and added Mohamed Kader Meïté, with the club labelled the “Real Madrid of Asia” by Benzema.

The Premier League has published its January 2026 shortlists for Player and Manager of the Month.

Brighton & Hove Albion’s Yasin Ayari is nominated after a productive month. The 22-year-old contributed to a goal in each of his four games across January, recording two goals and two assists.

Michael Carrick is included among the managerial nominees after a perfect start as Manchester United’s interim manager. Patrick Dorgu is cited as a key inspiration. Playing as a winger, he scored against both Arsenal and Manchester City, adding to an assist in Darren Fletcher’s league game as caretaker. Carrick oversaw two matches in January, both ending in victories over Manchester City and Arsenal.

Chelsea vice-captain Enzo Fernández featured in January’s goals, popping up at crucial moments for Liam Rosenior. Stoppage-time strikes against Manchester City and West Ham United were headline moments in a month which included a total of three goals and an assist.

Crysencio Summerville’s run also caught attention. Fernández’s late strike against West Ham United broke the heart of one of the game’s earlier scorers, Crysencio Summerville. Entering January, the Dutch winger had not scored in the Premier League since October 2024, but he now has three in his last three outings after netting against Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and Sunderland.

Brentford striker Igor Thiago added five goals in January, with a hat-trick against Everton and a brace versus Sunderland, and he seeks to become the first player to win the prize twice this season. Harry Wilson makes the shortlist again after goals against Chelsea, Brighton and Liverpool while approaching the end of his contract. Liverpool midfielder Florian Wirtz earns a first nomination after a return of three goals and an assist in a month that produced just one win in six for Liverpool.

On the managerial side, Nottingham Forest began to recover under Sean Dyche, turning four straight defeats into two wins and a draw from four fixtures, losing only to Aston Villa. Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola ended an 11-game winless run when his side beat Tottenham Hotspur 3–2, with Liverpool and Wolverhampton Wanderers also beaten by the Cherries. Chelsea newcomer Liam Rosenior receives his first nomination after winning all three of his Premier League outings in January, seeing off Brentford, Crystal Palace and West Ham to become the fourth English manager to win their first three Premier League games.

The January transfer window lacked the headline-grabbing drama of the summer but still altered squads across the Premier League. Seventy-five percent of clubs added reinforcements, and a handful of moves carried clear immediate and future consequences.

Manchester City were the big winners. They signed Antoine Semenyo from Bournemouth for £64 million and Marc Guéhi from Crystal Palace for an initial £20 million. Semenyo has made an immediate impact, scoring four goals in his first five appearances for the club in all competitions. The 26 year-old’s versatility and Premier League experience point to a long-term fit for Pep Guardiola’s side. Guéhi provides cover for current defensive injuries while adding an established centre back to City’s ranks.

Bournemouth will feel the loss but have leaned into their role as a profit-turning feeder club. Semenyo’s departure was anticipated after a release clause was inserted when he signed a new contract last summer. The Cherries have reinvested, bringing in backup goalkeepers Fraser Forster and Christos Mandas and signing youngsters Alex Toth and Rayan for a combined £35 million. Rayan, the 19-year-old ex-Vasco da Gama forward who had been linked with Bayern Munich, recorded his first assist on his club debut in the 2–0 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Jérémy Jacquet was the headline signing of Deadline Day. The 20-year-old, who will finish the campaign in France with Rennes, secured the first permanent transfer of his career when Liverpool agreed a deal worth up to £60 million. Despite links to Chelsea, “For Jacquet, snubbing Chelsea for Liverpool was a wise decision.” With Virgil van Dijk approaching 35, Ibrahima Konaté due to be out of contract this coming summer, Joe Gomez still injury prone and Giovanni Leoni recovering from an ACL injury, Jacquet has a clearer path into Liverpool’s defence and could be a starter by next season.

Yet Liverpool emerge as a January loser because the club did not add short-term defensive cover, leaving them exposed as they contest Champions League qualification and domestic silverware. Crystal Palace endured a disastrous month: after losing Eberechi Eze last summer they also lost Guéhi, saw Oliver Glasner confirm he will leave at season’s end, had a failed Mateta move to AC Milan, spent £48 million on Jørgen Strand Larsen from Wolves and called off a £20 million deal for Dwight McNeil. The Eagles sit nine league games without victory.

Tottenham’s situation worsened as Mohammed Kudus, Rodrigo Bentancur, Lucas Bergvall, Pedro Porro, Ben Davies and Richarlison were added to an already stretched injury list, joining long-term absentees James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski — an unwelcome development with pressure growing on Thomas Frank.