Top 7 January transfer window signings of all time

The January transfer window is usually used as a means to rectify the small cracks in the team. It is for this reason that the January window is mostly used for loan signings.

However, there are exceptions every now and then as sometimes, clubs sign players in the winter market that go on to establish themselves as legends – or a great purchase at the very least.

It is harder to sign players in the winter market than it is in the summer and it is due to the fact that no club really likes to lose players in the middle of the season. With just a few hours left for this January window to slam shut, we have a look at the best signings of the winter window…

#7 Javier Mascherano – West Ham to Liverpool

Javier Mascherano signed for Liverpool from West Ham in the winter of 2007, amid much controversy. The Argentine formed in what was perhaps the best 3-man midfield in the Premier League at that time alongside Steven Gerrard and the legendary Xabi Alonso.

It cost Liverpool £18.6 million to buy him out from his agency Media Sports Investment and that money also covered his wages for four years, making it a great deal for the Reds.

After three-and-a-half years at Anfield, Barcelona came calling and paid Liverpool £17.25 million to acquire the services of the Argentine superstar. He came close to winning the Champions League with the Reds in 2007 and had a tremendous outing in the final against AC Milan but 2-1 in the end.

Still, he remains one of winter window’s best signings.

#6 Mikel Arteta – Real Sociedad to Everton

Mikel Arteta is an Everton legend by all means. Signed from Real Sociedad in January 2005 in a loan deal with a clause to buy him permanently, Arteta established himself as one of the most consistent midfielders in the country.

He played at Goodison Park for over six years before moving to Arsenal for £10 million, which wasn’t a bad fee for someone nearing his 30. Everton signed him for a puny amount of £2 million and he went on to play for them 209 times, assisting 38 goals and scoring 34 times.

The only black mark in his career with the Toffees is that he never got to lift a trophy with them. But even then, his consistency makes him get a place here.

#5 Philippe Coutinho – Inter to Liverpool

Philippe Coutinho was signed by Liverpool in the winter of 2013 for an amount of just £8.5 million. With the benefit of hindsight now, one could question as to how Inter never realized the true value of the Brazilian.

Coutinho then went on to play 201 games for Liverpool and established himself as one of the best-attacking midfielders in the world. In his final six months at Anfield, he scored 12 times from 20 games and then left for Barcelona in January 2017.

The Catalans may end up paying a mammoth £142 million for the Brazilian, which means that Liverpool could potentially make a profit of £133.5 million while also using his service for four years.

#4 Patrice Evra – Monaco to Manchester United

The Frenchman might have had his fair share of controversies at the Old Trafford but Patrice Evra is among one of the best signings ever made in the winter transfer market.

Signed for just £5.5 million in January 2006, Evra went on to have such an accomplished career at the Old Trafford that he is now regarded as one of its finest legends.

He stayed at the till the end of the 2013-14 season and then left for Juventus. But it was not before he played 379 times for the Old Trafford outfit. In that time, he won the Premier League title five times and was also a Champions League winner once, making him a proper legend at the Theatre of Dreams.

#3 Nemanja Vidic – Spartak Moscow to Manchester United

Patrice Evra wasn’t the only player they signed that went on to become a legend at the club. In fact, one could actually argue that Manchester United’s outing in the January 2006 window was the greatest ever by a club in the winter market.

The other signing that the Red Devils made in that window was of Nemanja Vidic. The Serbian formed a rock-solid near-unbreakable defense alongside Rio Ferdinand. This was the backline on which laid the foundations of United’s success.

Vidic completed exactly 300 games with the Red Devils after joining them for just £7 million. In that time, he won the Premier League five times and the Champions League once.

#2 Luis Suarez – Ajax to Liverpool

Luis Suarez might have courted controversy wherever he played but one can’t deny that he was one of the greatest signings ever for Liverpool. The Reds were going through somewhat of a renovation and Suarez was brought in as a part of it in 2011.

He was signed for £22.8 million by the Reds and became the most expensive player at the club until Andy Carroll broke that record a few hours later. It was a rather terrible window for Liverpool – save the signing of the Uruguayan.

Then in the summer of 2014, Barcelona came calling and he joined them but it wasn’t before he scored 82 goals from 133 matches – a superb return. It wasn’t the only great thing as he was sold for £65 million – more than double of what he cost Liverpool.

#1 Marcelo – Fluminense to Real Madrid

And finally, the greatest signing ever made in the history of the January window. Marcelo Vieira da Silva Junior was signed as an 18-year-old kid from Fluminense for a fee of around £5 million.

Years down the line, this looks like a free signing considering that Marcelo went on to become the best left-back in the world. Right now, he might be going through a bit of bad phase but on his day, there is no-one better.

So far, he has played in 473 matches for Madrid, scoring 36 times in the process. He has won four league titles with the Galacticos while also achieving four Champions League honours.

And even now, he is going strong. Madrid really got lucky with this one!