The January transfer window is well and truly underway, with some notable signings already being made.
That continued on Friday morning when Manchester City completed a £65million transfer for Antoine Semenyo from Bournemouth.
TIBS News has looked back through the years at some of the best January signings in the Premier League era.
10) Jarrod Bowen: Hull City to West Ham – £20m (2020)
Bowen is one of West Ham’s best attacking options at the moment. He joined from Hull in 2020 and has made over 200 appearances for the Hammers. In the 2023-24 season, he netted 16 times – equalling Paolo Di Canio’s record for the most goals scored by a West Ham player in a Premier League season.
The campaign before he wrote himself into club folklore with a 90th-minute winner in the UEFA Europa Conference League final against Fiorentina.
9) Seamus Coleman: Sligo Rovers to Everton – £60,000 (2009)
Coleman didn’t cost Everton a lot, but he may be the best value for money signing the Premier League has seen. During David Moyes’ first spell at Everton, he signed the right back for just £60,000. Now 37, he has since seen Moyes return as Everton’s manager.
The Irishman has appeared over 400 times for the Toffees, being a notable figure in the Everton defence for years.
8) Gary Cahill: Bolton to Chelsea – £7m (2012)
Cahill joined in 2012, adding more Premier League experience to the Blues’ backline. The centre back became a key figure at Stamford Bridge, helping the team win the Champions League during his first few months, where they defeated German giants Bayern Munich.
Cahill also went on to win two Premier Leagues as well as more European glory, winning the Europa League twice among his honours.
7) Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang: Borussia Dortmund to Arsenal – £56m (2018)
In January 2018, Aubameyang swapped yellow for red, leaving Borussia Dortmund and joining Arsenal. During his first half-season, he managed to score 10 goals from 14 appearances in all competitions.
The striker impressed fans during his time at the Gunners, sharing the Golden Boot in the 2018-19 season with Liverpool’s Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah. He also won the FA Cup with Arsenal a season later.
6) Patrice Evra – Monaco to Manchester United – £5.5m (2006)
In January 2006, Sir Alex Ferguson signed French left-back Evra – however, his debut was not plain sailing, as he was taken off at half-time against Manchester City. This only fuelled a fire as Evra went on to have a successful time at United, winning a Champions League as well as five Premier Leagues.
After making over 250 appearances for the Red Devils, Evra left Manchester United to go and join Italian side Juventus in 2014.
5) Bruno Fernandes – Sporting to Manchester United – £47m with add-ons (2020)
An initial fee of around £47m, with roughly another £20m in add-ons, saw the midfield maestro join Manchester United. He remains their main creative player, having already contributed to 13 goal involvements in the Premier League so far this season.
During his time at United, he has won the League Cup and FA Cup – assisting Kobbie Mainoo’s winner in the latter in May 2024.
4) Nemanja Vidic: Spartak Moscow to Manchester United – £7m (2006)
Vidic joined Manchester United for around £7m in the same window that they signed Evra. He led United’s backline for eight years, winning five Premier League titles – as well as the 2007-08 Champions League, where they beat Chelsea on penalties.
The Serbian left Old Trafford in 2014 and goes down as one of their greatest-ever defenders in history.
3) Andrew Cole: Newcastle to Manchester United – £7m (1995)
Although transfer windows weren’t introduced yet, Cole joined the Red Devils in January 1995. He left rivals Newcastle to join title holders United, costing them around £7m. This would turn out to be a very good investment for Manchester United.
In the 1998-99 season, Cole would partner up with Dwight Yorke, completing a lethal strike force – which spearheaded their famous Treble-winning campaign with Cole scoring over 20 goals during that.
2) Luis Suarez: Ajax to Liverpool – £22.7m (2011)
Liverpool fans were left worried when Fernando Torres left for Chelsea in 2011. However, Luis Suarez soon arrived from Ajax, and he certainly put on a show for the fans.
His most prolific season came in 2013-14, which saw him bag 31 Premier League goals from 33 appearances and provide 12 assists too. He won the Golden Boot that season and collected the PFA and Football Writers’ Player of the Year awards.
1) Virgil Van Dijk: Southampton to Liverpool – £75m (2018)
The Dutchman joined the Reds in January 2018 for £75m from Southampton and proved to be an instant favourite with Liverpool fans. His debut saw him head home an 85th-minute winner against Merseyside rivals Everton in the FA Cup third round.
He has been vital for Liverpool, helping them win the 2018-19 Champions League, two Premier League titles (2019-20 and 2024-25), a FIFA Club World Cup (2019), a FA Cup (2021-22) and two League Cups (2021-22 and 2023-24).
