January transfer window: Grading big signings in men's soccer

Premier League clubs spent £3 billion ($4 billion) in a summer transfer window that smashed the previous record of £2.36 billion ($3.2 billion) from two summers ago.

Here are grades for all the major confirmed transfers in the men's game, with each listed by date and then by highest fee.

All fees are reported unless confirmed with an asterisk.

Jan. 31

Oleksandr Zinchenko €1.5m (£1.3m; $1.8m)

Arsenal: C Ajax: A

Zinchenko was a transformative £30 million signing for Arsenal in 2022, helping change the style and set the tone for what would become yearly title challenges. Unfortunately, since 2024, injuries have prevented him from impacting. It's the right time for Arsenal to say goodbye -- although a paltry fee of €1.5 million is a little disappointing.

Ajax will be thrilled to pick up a player who is stellar in possession, and who should cope better with the lessened demands of the Eredivisie, hopefully allowing him to stay a lot fitter.

Stefan Ortega Free

Manchester City: C Nottingham Forest: A

Forest goalkeeper John Victor has been ruled out for the season with a knee injury, so signing Ortega on a five-month deal is a shrewd move to cover that. The 33-year-old typically looked good when stepping in for Ederson at Manchester City over the years, which serves as a marker of his quality. But with James Trafford now backing up Gianluigi Donnarumma at the Etihad Stadium, his services are no longer required.

If City had been better organized on the goalkeeping front last summer, they could have parted with Ortega earlier and received a reasonable fee. Instead, he's gone on an initial free transfer that could rise to £500,000 with add-ons.

Jan. 30

Lucas Paquetá €41.25m (£35.8m; $49m)

West Ham United: B Flamengo: B

The Brazilian league is suddenly flush with money, and Paquetá becomes the latest -- and by far the most expensive -- headline addition to the top tier in the last few years. It's a record-breaking deal for Flamengo and the league.

West Ham did well to recoup a healthy fee for a player who has endured a tough couple of years. After becoming embroiled in (and eventually cleared from) a betting scandal, the talented playmaker's form tailed off, and he simply has not been the same. Hopefully, a move home can kickstart his career again.

Oscar Bobb £27m ($37.2m)

Manchester City: A- Fulham: B

Bobb was on the cusp of breaking into Man City's first-team in August 2024 ... then he broke his leg and watched Antoine Semenyo, Omar Marmoush and Rayan Cherki all sign to play his position. City are letting go of great potential, but the reality is £27 million, plus a percentage of a future fee, is a strong return for a player who has not played much at all.

Fulham are the beneficiaries of that fallout. They've cemented themselves into such a safe position in the Premier League table that they can make these kinds of signings and, at 22 years of age, Bobb represents a welcome fresh face into the oldest squad in the Premier League.

Alex Freeman €3.4m ($4m)

Orlando City: B- Villarreal: A

Freeman enjoyed an all-time breakout year in 2025, not only bursting onto the MLS scene and playing 38 times for Orlando City, but sealing a spot in the USMNT ahead of the 2026 World Cup too, earning 13 caps and counting. A right back with an eye for a goal, he's basically the American version of Inter Milan's Denzel Dumfries.

His athleticism and potential are obvious, so Villarreal are smart to tap into them; a deal that begins at $4 million and could rise to $6.5 million (plus a percentage of any future fee) is a good one for them. The fee looks a little low from Orlando's perspective, but the future percentage could save it.

Jan. 28

Adama Traoré £1M ($1.4M)

Fulham: B West Ham: B

When managers are under pressure, they tend to turn to those they know they can trust. That's exactly what's happened here, as West Ham -- five points off Premier League safety -- have reunited Traoré with manager Nuno Espírito Santo. The pair previously worked together at Wolves.

A fee that could rise to just £2 million might look like a small return for Fulham, but he was signed on a free transfer in 2023 anyway, and considering he's started just one league game for the club this season, this is an obvious exercise in clearing his wages off the books and opening a spot for a new signing.

Douglas Luiz Loan

Juventus: B Aston Villa: A

Due to a blizzard of injuries to their midfield ranks, Aston Villa suddenly found themselves in dire need of reinforcement. They moved extremely fast to agree on a deal for Luiz, whose loan at Nottingham Forest from Juventus was cut short to make it happen, and has a €25M option. It's another "homecoming" of sorts for the Villans after Tammy Abraham's return, given Luiz played more than 200 times for the club from 2019-24 and only departed to alleviate profitability and sustainability rules concerns.

Juventus clearly do not see a future for Luiz in Italy, and while a permanent exit would have been ideal, this is at least a great opportunity for the player, back in familiar surroundings, to impress potential suitors ahead of the summer (including Villa themselves).

Jan. 27

Rayan £24.7m ($34m)

Vasco da Gama: B+ Bournemouth: A-

Bournemouth have put the Antoine Semenyo money to immediate use. In Rayan, Bournemouth have signed one of Brazil's most exciting young forwards for a fee that could rise to £30.3 million if add-ons are met. He is an aggressive, strong forward who plays and strikes the ball with power. He can play across the front line, looks a top-level No. 9 in the making and represents a real coup for the Premier League club.

This is a club-record departure for Vasco, and the money comes at a time of great need after prolonged financial difficulties over the past few years. The only knock on the deal from their perspective is that there is no clause for a percentage of his next transfer.

Tammy Abraham €21m (£18.2m, $24.9m) + Yasin Özcan

Besiktas: A Aston Villa: B

After letting Donyell Malen join Roma earlier in the window, Villa were in desperate need of another striker. Abraham fits the system much better than Malen did and has completed a heartwarming return to Villa Park -- he scored 26 league goals for the club on loan in 2018-19, helping them gain promotion to the Premier League.

The 28-year-old spent the first half of the season on loan with Besiktas from Roma. The Turkish club made that deal permanent for €13 million then immediately sanctioned his departure to the Premier League, making an instant €8 million profit and cleverly securing a promising young Türkiye international in Özcan too.

Jan. 26

Dro Fernández €8m ($9.5m)

Barcelona: F Paris Saint-Germain: A+

Dro is one of the finest young prospects in Europe, and Barcelona know it. That's why they made sure to integrate him into the first team this season, give him minutes off the bench and even start the 17-year-old in a Champions League game.

But none of that proved enough to keep Dro around, and activating his €6 million release clause (plus a bit on top) was one of the easiest moves Paris Saint-Germain will ever make. Coach Luis Enrique now has another fine midfield talent to nurture and call upon.

Jan. 23

Ethan Nwaneri Loan

Arsenal: B Marseille: B

Nwaneri has started just four games in all competitions this season for Arsenal, one fewer than backup goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga. Nwaneri is a huge prospect, but coach Mikel Arteta clearly does not think he's ready to shoulder the burden of Arsenal's title challenge.

Marseille offers a route to playing more minutes at a high level in Ligue 1 under a possession-based coach in Roberto De Zerbi. Their midfield area has great depth, but Nwaneri could offer a different, better option in the No. 10 role.

Jan. 22

Souza £13m ($17.6m)

Santos: B Tottenham Hotspur: B

Young left back Souza enjoyed a breakout 2025 season in Brazil, starting 19 league games and often linking up on the flank with Neymar when the veteran forward wasn't sidelined through injury. Souza is an athletic fullback, often seen sprinting up the flank, and a willing crosser of the ball.

With 32-year-old Ben Davies recently breaking an ankle and Destiny Udogie proving to be rather injury-prone, it's easy to see why Spurs are trying to future-proof this position. A fee of £13 million isn't a lot for the London club, but it is for Santos, who are laden with debt.

Jan. 20

Marc-André ter Stegen Loan

Barcelona: B- Girona: A

Girona have endured goalkeeping turmoil this season. Paulo Gazzaniga's form has been up and down and Dominik Livaković, a summer arrival on loan, has reportedly refused to play for the club and wants to leave. If Ter Stegen is even 50% of his previous, pre-injury level, this is a phenomenal short-term Band-Aid.

For Barcelona it's hardly ideal -- they're still paying the vast majority of the Germany international's wages -- but it is at least a way of allowing the goalkeeper to play some football, perhaps make it back into the national squad ahead of the World Cup, and therefore increase his transfer value ahead of a permanent summer move.

Jan. 19

Marc Guéhi £20m ($26m)

Crystal Palace: D Man City: B+

With center backs Rúben Dias and Josko Gvardiol injured and a gap to Arsenal at the top of the Premier League table opening up, City decided to swoop for Guéhi. A transfer fee of £20 million (plus bonuses) is obscenely cheap for a player of his established quality, but the reported wages of £300,000 per week mean the overall financial package is hardly a bargain.

For Palace, this is devastating. Their captain has departed for a fee well below market value (because his contract was set to expire this summer), after they rejected £35 million for him back in August. Guéhi departing now seriously harms the Eagles' chances of winning the UEFA Conference League this season.

Jan. 16

Donyell Malen Loan

Aston Villa: A- Roma: B-

Malen's stay in the Premier League lasted just one year. He signed for an initial €25 million ($29 million) last January and quickly moved on to Roma for a €2 million loan fee and €25 million option next summer, which looks like good work from Aston Villa as they were never able to find a place for him in their best XI.

The Dutchman's speed and instinctive finishing should shine brighter in Serie A as the league speed is a little slower, and Roma's attacking system will incorporate and support him better.

Jan. 14

Conor Gallagher €40m (£34.7m; $46.7m)

Atlético Madrid: A Tottenham Hotspur: B-

Gallagher returns to the Premier League after 18 months in LaLiga. The first 12 months of that stint were pretty successful, but this season he has fallen out of the first XI due to hugely increased competition. Atlético will ultimately be delighted to receive a fee of €40 million for a player who has made just four league starts this season.

Tottenham are signing a 25-year-old, homegrown midfielder whose athleticism is off the charts. The only question that lingers is over his profile: They've lacked a passing master for over a year, but never seem to address that issue, instead signing combative midfielder after combative midfielder.

Jan. 13

João Cancelo Loan

Al Hilal: D Barcelona: A+

In desperate need of defensive reinforcements, Barcelona have turned to the market and found a gem of a deal: Cancelo, on a half-season loan, is a brilliant addition to the team. He's already taken in one previous loan spell at Barça in 2023-24, so is returning to familiar surroundings. His ability to play left or right back will take the strain off a number of players currently pushing themselves to the limit.

Al Hilal get a D grade because they're losing a quality player for very little (Barcelona will pay a portion of Cancelo's wages), but the money doesn't actually seem to matter to PIF-owned clubs in Saudi Arabia.

Jan. 9

Antoine Semenyo £62.5m ($84m)

Bournemouth: A Manchester City: B-

Semenyo had a £65 million release clause this winter, but City have secured an initial deal just below that figure. In doing so, they paid what has become the peak rate to bring in a Premier League-proven attacker in his mid-20s, -- a benchmark roughly set by Matheus Cunha (£62.5 million) and Bryan Mbeumo (£65 million) to Manchester United, then solidified by Eberechi Eze (£60 million) to Arsenal last summer.

It's a lot of money to sign a player about to turn 26, but City need to be able to score goals outside of Erling Haaland, and the Ghana international's 21 strikes in the league over the last 18 months suggest he's up to the task. Plus, he's a relentlessly hard worker -- no forward has made more ball recoveries than Semenyo (101) this season -- and an astute presser.

Jan. 5

Taty Castellanos €30m (£26.1m; $35m)

Lazio: A West Ham: B-

Castellanos has a distinctive aesthetic when striking the ball, which he mixes with some aggressive running and pressing (leading to lots of fouls and yellow cards) and the willingness to drop off, receive the ball and turn.

He's done OK since moving to Europe from MLS side New York City FC, but in Serie A specifically he has consistently struggled to finish chances (he underperformed his xG by 3.3 in both his previous campaigns). That might be because he has a habit of scoring spectacular goals, but misses the easy ones. Lazio were likely more than happy to collect a decent fee for a 27-year-old striker who never really nailed down a first-choice role at the club. This is definitely a gamble from West Ham.

Jan. 2

Brennan Johnson £35m ($47m)

Tottenham Hotspur: A Crystal Palace: B-

Johnson enjoyed two productive seasons with Tottenham, relying on two key traits -- speed and scoring goals at the back post -- to carve out a role under then-manager Ange Postecoglou that culminated in him scoring the winner in the Europa League final. But since Thomas Frank took the reins in June, the Wales international has fallen down the pecking order, making just eight starts in the Premier League and Champions League.

Crystal Palace is a nice landing spot for him. The Eagles are in desperate need of players -- they have a small squad which is now being squeezed by injuries, absences and an absurd schedule -- and Johnson's counter-attacking pace suits the manager's style.

Pablo €21m (£18.3m; $25m)

Gil Vicente: A West Ham: B-

West Ham are betting on the hot hand here. They're in the thick of a relegation scrap and need to find goals fast, so they've turned to a man who could barely be running hotter. Pablo has scored 10 goals from just 13 shots on target in the Portuguese Primeira Liga, a frankly ridiculous return, and he's overperformed his xG ever since joining Gil Vicente in 2024. But has absolutely exploded this term.

The Brazilian will do extremely well to keep this up at Premier League level, but at the very least brings other skills to the table: He is a physical, hardworking forward who wins lots of fouls and poses a constant threat at set pieces -- and, at 22, he has plenty of room to grow.

Niclas Füllkrug Loan

West Ham: D AC Milan: A

Add Füllkrug to the long list of West Ham strikers who simply have not worked out in the past 10 years. Injuries tore up his 2024-25 campaign and he has struggled to find a footing ever since. The Hammers will be happy to have his wages off the books, but the problem with this deal from their perspective is there's no finality to it: If Milan don't take up the €5 million permanent option, they're back to square one.

Milan have taken advantage of this to strike a cheap, short-term, no-risk deal. The Germany international will bolster the squad in attack, suit Max Allegri's style of play and be happy to impact off the bench -- if he can stay fit enough to make the matchday squads.

Jan. 1

Alysson £8.7m ($11.7m)

Grêmio: C+ Aston Villa: B+

Alysson is an exciting attacking prospect; a right-footed left winger with good one-vs.-one skills and a willingness to put in a defensive shift. This move comes very early into his career, but Gremio's extreme financial difficulties presented a market opportunity for the Premier League club to pounce upon.

The Brazilian's profile is one that Aston Villa are sorely lacking heading into 2026, so making the move for him makes sense. The only question is how soon he'll be able to contribute to the first team, given the step up he's making is huge.

Endrick Loan

Real Madrid: A Lyon: A

January's first major deal was one that suited all parties perfectly. Endrick played a paltry 99 minutes in all competitions for Real Madrid in the first half of the season, slipping down to the position of fourth-choice striker at best. For the 19-year-old to develop, and to potentially nab a spot in Brazil's 2026 FIFA World Cup squad, he needs to play much more.

Lyon are the happy recipients of Endrick's talents on a temporary basis. Reports suggest they'll pay half his wages and are contractually obliged to play him in lots of games. For a club whose top-scoring No. 9 in Ligue 1 this season has just two goals, it's an exciting acquisition.