The Premier League’s Big Six, including Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, and Tottenham Hotspur, have made close to 200 signings during the winter transfer window since 2003. Chelsea and Tottenham have been the most active, each completing around 40 deals, while Manchester United has conducted the least business with only 22 signings. Overall, the Big Six have spent over £1.83 billion in the winter window, with Chelsea being the biggest spenders at £628.94 million and Manchester United the most frugal at £179.65 million. Chelsea also holds the record for the most signings in a single winter window, bringing in eight players for a total fee of £296.7 million in January 2023.
Which player in your opinion has been the best January signing ever?
Luiz Suarez from Ajax to Liverpool in January 2011 is the best January transfer ever to me.
Suarez made headlines during the 2010 World Cup, leading Uruguay to the semi-finals but gaining notoriety for a handball. Despite controversies, no serious bids came in for him at Ajax. Liverpool signed him for £23m, and after a slow start, he became a key player, scoring 82 goals in 3.5 seasons. His time at Anfield was marred by biting incidents and bans, including a 10-match suspension for biting Ivanovic and an eight-game ban for racist language. Despite controversies, Barcelona bought him for £75m in 2014.
@Daniel Agree- Suarez was the best January transfer.
Two more January transfers at Liverpool can be counted among the best:
Philippe Coutinho - Inter Milan to Liverpool - £8.5 million (2013): Coutinho arrived in January 2013. He became a vital creative force for Liverpool, contributing significantly to their attacking play. While he eventually moved to Barcelona without winning a trophy, he was the technician in Liverpool’s midfield that unlocked defences to the point of near history in 2014, with Liverpool coming desperately close to winning their first Premier League.
Virgil van Dijk - Southampton to Liverpool, £75 million (2018) - Coutinho’s move to Barcelona in January 2018 led to a mammoth transfer fee of £105 million basically giving Liverpool the means to sign two of their most important players - Virgil van Dijk and Alisson Becker. Van Dijk’s arrival at Liverpool significantly strengthened their defense and had a major impact on the team’s success. In his first three seasons Liverpool won the Champions League, reached another Champions League final and finally secured the Premier League, marking their first league win in 30 years.
He is the only defender to win the UEFA Men’s Player of the Year Award, and has finished runner-up for both the Ballon d’Or and Best FIFA Men’s Player, all in 2019.
Fernando Torres
Luis Suárez, Andy Carroll