Highlights of the January Transfer Market
Manchester City was one of the clubs that benefited the most in this market, having signed defender Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace for 20 million pounds, in addition to acquiring winger Antoine Semenyo from Bournemouth. These deals strengthened the team with players who have previous experience in the Premier League.
In the Saudi League, the biggest surprise was Al Hilal club signing the veteran French star Karim Benzema from Al Ittihad Jeddah.
In contrast, Liverpool chose to invest in the future by signing French defender Jérémy Jacquet from Rennes for £60 million, in a deal that provided medium-term defensive support, while the French club made a significant financial gain.
Some deals have raised questions about their technical and financial viability, most notably Crystal Palace’s signing of striker Jørgen Strand Larsen for £48 million, at a time when Wolverhampton benefited from the sale value.
The market also witnessed Ademola Lookman’s transfer to Atletico Madrid for 35 million euros, a deal considered suitable for the Spanish team, alongside Conor Gallagher’s return to the English Premier League through Tottenham, providing additional solutions in the midfield.
At the loan level, Endrick’s move from Real Madrid to Lyon stood out as a step aimed at giving him more playing time, while Arsenal preferred to loan Ethan Nwaneri to Marseille to gain experience.
On the other hand, Douglas Luiz returned to Aston Villa in an attempt to regain his form, and Drew Fernandez moved from Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain in a youth deal that sparked controversy within the Catalan club. Additionally, Barcelona signed João Cancelo on loan to provide additional options in the backline.
