Premier League dominates top ten January transfers

February 3 – With the January transfer window now closed in most countries, the Premier League once again dominated the top ten biggest deals. 

Manchester City topped the charts by triggering Antoine Semenyo’s €72 million release clause from Bournemouth early in the window, and he has already proved a hit with four goals and an assist in five games. 

The next biggest transfer was Jørgen Strand Larsen’s €49.7 million move from Wolves to Crystal Palace, with both these deals being among seven of the top ten to involve a buying club from the Premier League. 

Five of the top ten transfers also involved Premier League clubs on the selling side, with Lucas Paquetá’s return to Flamengo for a Brazilian record fee of €42 million representing the third most expensive deal. 

Many of the top ten deals occurred early in the window, including Conor Gallagher’s €40 million move to Tottenham from Atlético Madrid, and Brennan Johnson’s €40 million move from Spurs to Palace. 

Having also sold Marc Guéhi to Manchester City earlier in the window, Palace were among the busiest of all in the market, but they pulled out of a late move for Everton’s Dwight McNeil in part because Jean-Philippe Mateta’s transfer to AC Milan collapsed over an issue with his medical. Manager Oliver Glasner’s problem now will be how to keep both Mateta and Strand Larsen happy as they compete for minutes. 

Ademola Lookman’s €35 million move from Atalanta to Atlético was the only transfer in the top ten to involve a European buyer outside of the Premier League.  

Elsewhere, Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal added Rennes forward Kader Meïté to their growing attacking lineup for €30 million. Announced this morning, Karim Benzema will join Meïté up front for Al Hilal after completing a controversial switch from Al Ittihad on a free transfer. 

Liverpool also agreed a deadline day €60 million deal for widely-admired Rennes defender Jérémy Jacquet, but this move did not make the top ten as given by Transfermkt.com as he will not join the club until the summer.  

Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at moc.l1770120074labto1770120074ofdlr1770120074owedi1770120074sni@g1770120074niwe.1770120074yrrah1770120074