The January transfer window has now closed, and, for better or worse, the squads that teams now have will see them through until the end of the season. Premier League clubs showed their financial power by dominating the window, which, fittingly closed, with the biggest spenders, Chelsea, smashing the British January transfer deal.
It was a typically frenetic last day which ended with an avalanche of last minute deals, some permanent, many of them loans, as clubs looked to give squad players more minutes in the second half of the season.
Here is a summary of some of the significant incoming and outgoings by the major clubs.
Chelsea
Chelsea took their spending to well over £300 million in the January window by signing Enzo Fernandez from Benfica for a British record fee of £107 million. The 22 year old Argentine, who was named Young Player of the Tournament at the Qatar World Cup, has signed an eight and a half year deal at Stamford Bridge.
To partially make way for him, vice-captain Jorginho has moved across town to join Arsenal, for a fee of £12 million. He has joined the Gunners on an 18 month contract, with the option of a further year.
Meanwhile, the proposed loan of winger Hakim Ziyech to PSG remains in doubt because Chelsea sent over the wrong paperwork. The Ligue 1 leaders are to appeal to the French Football Federation in a bid to get the move ratified.
Arsenal
Apart from Jorginho coming in the door, Arsenal allowed both midfielder Albert Sambi Lokonga and Brazilian winger Marquinhos to leave on loan for the rest of the season they gain more experience. They have joined Crystal Palace and Norwich City respectively.
Manchester City
Although there were no incomings at the Etihad, there was a significant departure, with Portuguese full-back joining Bayern Munich on loan, with the German club having an option to buy at the end of the season. The move caught many observers by surprise, but has been interpreted as manager Pep Guardiola flexing his muscles, as the relationship between the two had deteriorated in recent months.
Manchester United
Whether Manchester United intended to be active on the last day of the window is a matter for conjecture, but they were forced into it with the news that midfielder Christian Eriksen will miss most of the rest of the season with the injury he picked up on FA Cup duty against Reading at the weekend.
They decided to look for a loan and decided upon Bayern Munich’s Marcel Sabitzer, the Austrian international. He had moved to the German champions in August 2021, having previously been club captain at RB Leipzig, and is a highly experienced player.
United remain in four competitions.
Tottenham Hotspur
The Tottenham business was all about right-backs.
Pedro Porro has joined the club from Sporting Lisbon until the end of the season with an obligation to buy of £40 million. However, the highly rated Djed Spence, who only joined the club last summer but has struggled for game time under Antonio Conte, has been sent out on loan to French club Rennes for the rest of the season.
Meanwhile, Matt Doherty has joined Atlético Madrid permanently, after his contract in North London was cancelled by mutual consent.
Liverpool and Everton
Amongst all the transfer activity, it was noticeably quiet on Merseyside, with neither club bringing in anybody. It is particularly surprising that Everton were so quiet, given their precarious position, and means that new manager Sean Dyche is faced with the problem of the lack of goals in the side for the rest of the season.
Nottingham Forest
The continual churn of players in and out of Nottingham Forest continued with three last day arrivals
Midfielder Jonjo Shelvey joined from Newcastle United, and defender Felipe from Atlético Madrid, whilst goalkeeper Keylor Navas has joined on loan as cover for the injured Dean Henderson.
That brought their January additions to six in all.
Southampton
Bottom side Southampton (they are below Everton on goal difference) broke their own transfer record by signing Ghanian winger Kamaldeen Sulemana for £22 million from Ligue 1 side Rennes.
Sulemana was recorded as the fastest player at the 2022 Qatar World Cup.
They also signed striker Paul Onuachu from Belgian side Genk.
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