January 2025 Transfer Highlights: Tracking the Major Player Movements

As the curtain drops on another January Transfer Window in the world of football, it’s safe to say there will be more clubs unhappy about the business that was done, rather than those that are pleased with what happened over the month. In total, Premier League clubs spent £370 million in the January transfer window, with Manchester City almost spending as much as the other 19 clubs combined.

With the window closed now until the summer, I will look at the biggest deals to go through over the window, as well as highlight the biggest January deals involving Irish players.

What Clubs Were Busiest

Manchester City may be struggling by their usual lofty standards this season, but they have certainly broken with tradition during this most recent January window. Close to £180 million has been spent at the Etihad as Pep Guardiola looks to begin the rebuild of his ageing squad, while also trying to climb back up the Premier League table. Nico Gonzalez from Porto for a fee of around £50 million was the standout Deadline Day buy for City, and the Spanish midfielder will certainly plug the gaping hole in their midfield whilst Rodri is still out. The club also brought in forward Omar Marmoush from Frankfurt for £63 million, while young defenders Abdukodir Khusanov and Vitor Reis were added for a combined total of just over £60 million.

Aston Villa were one of the busiest clubs in the Premier League during the window with 5 additions to their squad. Marcus Rashford, Marco Asensio, Axel Disasi, young Spanish defender Andres Garcia and Dutch forward Donyell Malen have all been brought to the club to help Villa qualify for the Champions League again this season under their world class boss Unai Emery.

Tottenham also made important moves during the window. A young goalkeeper was added in Antonin Kinsky, while Mathys Tel, an exciting forward from Bayern was brought in on loan with an option to buy in the summer. Kevin Danso, an athletic defender was loaned from Lens which will help Ange Postecoglou’s defensive worries, after so many injuries in that position.

What Clubs will be underwhelmed by the Window

Many clubs in the Premier League will be disappointed with the lack of business they were able to do in this window. Everton who have improved immensely since the return of David Moyes to the dugout could only add Carlos Alcaraz on loan due to financial restrictions. Fulham who only added Willian late on deadline day were also quiet, despite the club riding high in the Top 10 and their manager Marco Silva wanting reinforcements at right back and up front.

Manchester United fans may be the most disappointed of all however after a quiet transfer window. Patrick Dorgu was added for around £30 million to solve the left wing back issues, but apart from that no other players were added to the first team. Dead wood like Antony, Marcus Rashford and Tyrell Malacia were shipped out on loan deals to free up some finances, but despite struggling up front and in midfield, no deals were done to help their new manager try and turn the season around. Fans will now hope that Dorgu can have a transformative impact down the left to help United to maybe push for the Europa League title and find a way back to the Champions League.

Which Irish Players Got Moves?

It turned out to be quite a busy transfer window for Irish players with Evan Ferguson the highest profile deal. The Brighton striker left on loan to West Ham to try and recapture the form, he showed a couple of seasons ago when he burst onto the scene. The move reunites him with Graham Potter who gave him his debut at Brighton, and if he can stay fit and play, it could prove to be a very shrewd bit of business by West Ham.

John Egan was also on the move, leaving Burnley to join Hull, while also in the Championship, Tom Cannon made a £10 million move to Sheffield United from Leicester City. Aaron Connolly moved permanently to Millwall after a spell at Sunderland, and Gavin Bazunu just back after an Achilles injury moved on loan to Standard Liege in Belgium from Southampton.

Festy Ebosele joined Turkish club Istanbul Basaksehir to become the first Irish player to play in the Turkish topflight. Andrew Omobamidele left Nottingham Forest, joining Strasbourg in Ligue 1on loan, while Eiran Cashin yet to be capped at senior level joined Brighton from Derby.

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