Page 3 - 5 best signings in the January transfer window

#3 Pepe Reina

Veteran goalkeeper Pepe Reina has performed extremely well since joining Aston Villa

One of the strangest signings during the January transfer window saw veteran goalkeeper Pepe Reina – who has won honours such as the Bundesliga, the FA Cup and both the World Cup and European Championship with Spain – move to Aston Villa in a loan deal from AC Milan. The transfer took many fans by surprise, especially given Reina is 37 years old and only played 12 games in 2018-19.

Thankfully for fans of Dean Smith’s struggling side, Reina has settled into life at Villa Park well, and since arriving in the Midlands, he’s been one of the Villains’ most consistent players. His debut for the club saw him make some remarkable saves in a 1-1 draw with Brighton, and in his second appearance, he was able to help Villa to a vital 2-1 win over fellow relegation battlers Watford.

Reina’s best showing yet actually came in a loss – the 2-3 defeat to Tottenham that saw him make a total of 7 excellent saves – but while Villa’s results haven’t improved massively since his arrival, he has brought an air of calm to the club that could be extremely important for them going forward in their fight against relegation.

About the author

Scott is a veteran MMA writer with over two decades of experience, including his ongoing tenure in Sportskeeda, which began seven years ago. He has written over 3000 pieces for the organization, while also covering football. Before joining Sportskeeda, Scott wrote articles for websites like The Oratory and Inside Pulse MMA.

Scott has a degree in history, which drives his research skills and helps him compile accurate information. His long stint in the field helps Scott provide a clear take on important topics, such as the criticism of promotions regarding fighter pay. While he feels fighters deserve a bigger revenue share, he doesn’t want MMA to suffer with purse-split issues.

Scott’s work has been previously reshared by the former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman. He uses credible sources, such as the UFC’s official website, during the writing process.

His dedication to MMA writing won him the Feature Writer of the Month award for Sportskeeda in November 2021.

Outside of work, Scott likes to go to the gym, walk his dog, and travel.

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Edited by Vishal Subramanian

5 best signings in the January transfer window | Premier League 2019-20

#3 Pepe Reina