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Big teams splashed some serious amounts of cash to recruit players that would fit into their teams well and keep their hunt for silverware this season on track. Some teams were forced to make a deal for players to lock them down and fend off interest from other big clubs across Europe.
Real Madrid were expected to make at least 2-3 signings but they are content with their only signing Brahim Diaz this window and would like to enforce their squad with reinforcements in the upcoming summer transfer window.
Some of Europe's finest teams snatched up some up of the hottest prospects. Some of the biggest names on the move were Samir Nasri, Youri Tielemans, Michy Batshuayi, Kevin-Prince Boateng, Medhi Benatia, Pepe, Timothy Weah, Mario Balotelli, Leandro Paredes, Lucas Paqueta, Denis Suarez and Cesc Fabregas among others.
Here we take a look at top 5 deals sealed in the winter transfer window.
#5 Gonzalo Higuain
Gonzalo Higuain reunited with the current Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri after their time together at SSC Napoli.31-year-olde moved to Chelsea on loan, after completing a six-month spell at AC Milan.
Higuain is a proven goalscorer and has amassed huge experience playing in different leagues and teams as big as Real Madrid C.F, SSC Napoli, Juventus and AC Milan.
Chelsea have been in desperate need of a striker that can score goals on a regular basis and the veteran can prove to be the right choice. The Blues had Alvaro Morata as their first choice striker who had an average season until now but struggled to adapt to the English style of play and physicality, which may have forced Sarri to look up to his former Argentine striker.
Although Higuain had a night to forget with Chelsea losing 4-0 away to Bournemouth on his Premier League debut but once he settles down into this side the new Chelsea no.9 may get them back on track.
#4 Christian Pulisic
Christian Pulisic joined Chelsea in a £57.6m move from Borussia Dortmund but has been loaned back to the German club for the remainder of the 2018-19 season. The arrival of the American to the Stamford Bridge is being viewed by many as the club preparing for a life without Eden Hazard, rather than the addition of a player to play alongside the Belgian.
A number of English clubs including Liverpool and Arsenal were previously linked with the American but Chelsea successfully snapped up the youngster. The new Blues recruit has found his first-team opportunities limited this season by the emergence of England international Jadon Sancho who joined Dortmund from Manchester City.
Pulisic is just 20 years of age with his best is yet to come and under a manager like Maurizio Sarri, he is only expected to reach his maximum potential as Chelsea.
#3 Alvaro Morata
Alvaro Morata pushed for a switch away from Chelsea and sealed off a miserable 18-month loan spell with a move to Atletico Madrid.
Morata may have enraged some Madridistas by moving to the city rivals but he is delighted with the move terming it as a dream come true. He rose from the youth ranks of Atletico Madrid but started his professional footballing career with Real Madrid C.F.
Atletico Madrid in the current circumstances were desperate for a striker to pair up with Antoine Griezmann up front and Morata will add to their attacking options with Diego Costa recovering from foot surgery and Nikola Kalinic having only scored twice in the league this term.
The Spaniard has already proven himself in Spain with Real Madrid and knows the league inside out which is something that will definitely work in his favour.
Los Rojiblancos hope Morata starts firing if they are to keep the title race alive and the former Chelsea star can turn his average season into something special with both parties benefiting from this move.
#2 Krzysztof Piatek
Krzysztof Piatek made a switch from Genoa to AC Milan for a sum of £31.5 million. The 23-year-old Polish international was eyed by many big clubs but Milan's offer was concrete.
Real Madrid C.F and Chelsea are teams that kept tabs on the Serie A sensation who has already netted 13 goals in 20 appearances this season in the league. Piatek caught the eye of big teams when he was seen locking horns with Cristiano Ronaldo to be at the top of goal scoring charts in Italy.
The Polish international has already made his debut for AC Milan after joining them this month and both his appearances for the Rossoneri have come against SSC Napoli. He played a cameo role as he was subbed in for the last 20 mins as AC Milan and SSC drew 0-0 in the league.
The second appearance was a knockout Copa Italia tie where he made the starting eleven. Piatek put in an impressive performance, scoring a brace that was enough to see off Napoli as Milan sealed the tie 2-0.
The former Genoa star can prove out to be a bargain for AC Milan if he can keep his goalscoring form in the games to come.
#1 Frenkie de Jong
FC Ajax sealed the deal with FC Barcelona for Frenkie de Jong which will see him move to the Camp Nou in the summer. The Dutch international signed a five-year deal after Barcelona agreed to pay €75m plus a further €11m in possible add-ons.
The Ajax prodigy drew some serious attention from Paris Saint Germain, Manchester City and FC Barcelona. De Jong looked set to seal a move to PSG but Bartomeu led his troops to Amsterdam to convince the midfielder to move to Camp Nou.
The Catalans were looking for an apt replacement for Sergio Busquets, who will turn 31 this year, and de Jong perfectly fits the bill. Besides playing as a deep-lying midfielder, de Jong can also play as a No 6 or No 8. The 21-year-old can even function as a makeshift center back as and when in need.
The Ajax sensation has a fantastic balance and dribbling ability. Meanwhile, his ball distribution and passing abilities perfectly fit in with Barcelona's style of play.
