5 most expensive deadline day signings in January

The ongoing January transfer window has been relatively quiet. Teams have been cautious about making many moves during the pandemic due to financial issues. However, we have witnessed some major signings in the last few days.

Dusan Vlahovic, Luis Diaz and Ferran Torres are some players who have dented a hole in the pockets of top clubs. With deadline day looming upon us, there is still the possibility of teams and players flinching at the last moment.

Deadline day is inarguably the most hyped day in the transfer window

Deadline day is synonymous with excitement. Ardent fans sit the entire day with a firm eye on the latest developments in the football market. Several big-money signings have occurred on deadline day in January in the last decade.

While some have turned out to be fruitful, most players are deemed flops. This shouldn't come as a surprise, as most of these moves are panic buys. Here are the January transfer window's top five costly deadline day deals.

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#5 Juan Cuadrado - Fiorentina to Chelsea for €31.00m

Aston Villa v Chelsea - Premier League

Juan Cuadrado is among a plethora of wingers/attacking midfielders who couldn't make their mark at Chelsea. The former Fiorentina wideman was snapped up by The Blues during Jose Mourinho's second stint at Stamford Bridge between 2013-15.

Cuadrado had a torrid time during his first season in the Premier League. Despite featuring in 12 Premier League games, he failed to score a single goal. The Colombian international spent a couple of seasons on loan at Juventus before sealing a permanent deal with them.

Overall, the winger, who has now turned into a full-back, played just 15 times for Chelsea. Despite facing stiff competition from the likes of Andriy Shevchenko, Kepa Arrizabalaga and Alvaro Morata, Cuadrado ranks among Chelsea's biggest flops.

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#4 Andy Carroll - Newcastle to Liverpool for €41 million

Liverpool v Everton - FA Cup Semi Final

Liverpool purchased Andy Carroll on deadline day of the 2010-11 winter transfer window. January 31, 2011, proved to be a busy day at Anfield. While Fernando Torres left Liverpool, Luis Suarez and Andy Carroll joined the Reds.

Both Torres and Carroll were record-breaking signings for Chelsea and Liverpool, respectively. Ironically, Luis Suarez, who slipped under the radar at the time, was by far the best transfer. Carroll had a disappointing two-year spell with the Merseyside club.

The Englishman scored just 11 times in 58 appearances for the Premier League giants. West Ham bought him in the summer of 2013 for €17.5 million, less than half the amount Liverpool shelled out for the striker in 2011. Carroll now plies his trade for West Brom in the Championship.

#3 Jackson Martinez - Atletico Madrid to Guangzhou Evergrande for €42 million

AFC Champions League - Sydney FC v Guangzhou Evergrande FC

The story of Jackson Martinez’s career is filled with highs and lows. The serial scorer at Porto couldn’t score regularly in La Liga. The Atletico Madrid man moved on to China just six months after moving from Porto.

The 35-year-old scored just two goals in ten outings for the Colchoneros, and his stay in China wasn’t any better. Martinez only managed to slot the ball into the net on two occasions in 15 appearances for Guangzhou Evergrande.

Martinez suffered a string of injuries, mainly pertaining to his ankle. In October 2016, he was ruled out for two years. At the time of his move, Martinez was the most expensive Asian transfer of all time. However, in March 2018, he had to be released because of his unavailability.

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#2 Fernando Torres - Liverpool to Chelsea for €58.5 million

Chelsea v Manchester City - Premier League

As mentioned earlier, Fernando Torres was signed before the deadline of the 2011 January transfer window. The Spanish striker had been imposing during his time at Liverpool. He consistently scored goals for club and country during the late 2000s.

Carlo Ancelotti’s Chelsea splashed the cash in a bid to challenge on all fronts. Being a clinical striker in a world-class club seemed like a match made in heaven. However, the reality was different for El Nino. The then-British record transfer scored a meager 45 goals in 172 games for Chelsea.

In contrast, he struck 81 times in 142 Liverpool appearances. The drop in quality couldn’t have been more drastic. Injuries and poor form led to Torres’ downward spiral. Although he won the Champions League, Europa League and FA Cup at Stamford Bridge, his career took a hit for the worse.

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#1 Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang - Borussia Dortmund to Arsenal for €63.75 million

Manchester United v Arsenal - Premier League

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s move to Arsenal a few years ago was the costliest ever January deadline day transfer. The Gabonese international has been a decent signing for the North London club, having scored 92 goals in 163 games over the last four years.

Aubameyang has had two impressive seasons at the Emirates Stadium, in 2018-19 and 2019-20. During the 2018-19 season, the French-born forward was the joint-highest top scorer in the Premier League with 22 goals under his belt.

The 32-year-old is having his worst season at the club so far and could leave in the summer window. Despite the bittersweet ending for Aubameyang, he was the most successful transfer among the five players who made the list.